SoftBank, through its subsidiary HAPSMobile Inc., collaborated with the government of Rwanda to carry out a 5G communications trial using a high-altitude platform station (HAPS), an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) prototype. The test utilized SoftBank’s 5G communications payload in the stratosphere, at an altitude ranging from four to 12 miles above the Earth’s surface.
The payload delivered continuous 5G connectivity for approximately 73 minutes, reaching a maximum altitude of 10.5 miles. The successful trial enabled a 5G-based Zoom video call between a 5G smartphone placed at the Rwanda test site and a SoftBank team in Japan.
The results of the trial surpassed SoftBank’s expectations, with Junichi Miyakawa, president and CEO of SoftBank, expressing gratitude to the Government of Rwanda for their support. Miyakawa emphasized the importance of bridging the digital divide through HAPS and other non-terrestrial network (NTN) solutions.
HAPS, an acronym for High-Altitude Platform Station, refers to unmanned aircraft systems that provide stratosphere-based connectivity to ground devices. They come in the form of airships, balloons, or fixed-wing drones and carry telecom payloads. HAPS have primarily been used for temporary coverage during disaster recovery. However, there is growing hope that they can offer more permanent and cost-effective coverage in unconnected areas, serving as an alternative to traditional infrastructure like cell towers and satellites.
The partnership between SoftBank and Rwanda commenced in July 2020 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between HAPSMobile and the country’s Ministry of ICT and Innovation. This successful trial opens up opportunities to explore various HAPS applications and potential commercial implementations not only in Rwanda but also in other regions of Africa.
Paula Ingabire, the Minister of ICT and Innovation of the Republic of Rwanda, praised the trial as a promising step toward narrowing the digital divide and fostering digital inclusion.
Sources: SoftBank, HAPSMobile Inc.
SoftBank and Rwanda Conduct Successful 5G Trial Using High-Altitude Platform Station .
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