Wireless Spewing Airships Get Another Name
from the what-to-call-them? dept
It seems that lots of folks have come up with the idea of providing wireless broadband connectivity by employing some form of floating air ship that covers a wide area. What's amusing to me, though, is that every time someone comes up with such a plan, they come up with a different name to call it. First, there were the stratelites, which were floating blimps that would provide satellite style wireless broadband from a lower altitude. Then, there were the aerostats, which would float high up in the air, but were still tethered to the ground. The tether would be a fiber optic cable, which would provide the backhaul connection. Now, the latest plan calls them "HAPs" for "high-altitude platforms", and this plan comes from a consortium of communications companies and research institutes who have been given a little bit of money. Of course, there are still a ton of technical and business model questions to be answered - so chances are there will be a few more iterations with a few more new names before anyone is actually using such a system.
Reader Comments (rss)
(Flattened / Threaded)
Let the name-game begin...
My vote's for "Sky-Fi"...
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Excellent!
(me too)
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
No Subject Given
WiFly?
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Stratellites
All the marketing hype sounds wonderful, but has anyone checked the science/engineering of such a stable(?) platform. Thirteen miles equates to approximately 65,000 feet. GPS is a wonderful station keeping "sensor", but how much power would be required to keep such a large profile stable in jet-stream like winds, thunderstorms or other high-altitude disturbances. Some technical fact and some beleivable analysis would sure help inprove confidence in such a radical project.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Add Your Comment