The new air-to-ground communication system is designed to deliver 5G connectivity from a HAPS aircraft in stratosphere for improved maritime intelligence
Airspan teams up with Space Compass: The companies are designing a system that will deliver 5G connectivity from stratosphere to ground.
High-altitude 5G: The system, designed to enhance Maritime Domain Awareness, will provide connectivity from Space Compass’ High-Altitude Platform Station aircraft using Airspan’s 5G In-Motion ATG.
Florida-based telco, Airspan Networks, is planning a 5G Air-to-Ground (ATG) system with NTT-backed Japanese space radio access network (RAN) company, Space Compass, that it says will amplify Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA).
The ATG system will establish 5G connectivity between a High-Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) aircraft — used for Earth observation and communication services — in the stratosphere, and ground stations located 300 kms away, the company said. The project will enable secure transmission of command-and-control and real-time mission data, it added.
“Our technology is designed to deliver carrier-grade performance in some of the most demanding environments, and this project demonstrates how 5G can unlock powerful new applications for high-altitude aviation and wide-area surveillance,” Airspan’s chief sales officer, Henrik Smith-Petersen, said in a statement.
The architecture includes airborne components — radios, antennas, and 5G processing units — that connect with land-based 5G radio access network (RAN) and core infrastructure, and a management system. Airspan noted that by leveraging advanced beam forming and high-gain antenna systems, it delivers “continuous 360-degree connectivity.”
Airspan positions the solution for maritime monitoring — shipping lanes, coastal regions, and remote ocean areas that conventional networks cannot reach.
The maritime domain serves as an important frontier of transportation and global economic activities. However, it’s openness invites many threats that are often out of sight for land-based surveillance systems. Maritime Domain Awareness or MDA is designed to counter this issue. It entails real-time scoping of events and conditions in maritime environments for analysis and assessment of security and safety impacts.
MDA relies on static and dynamic data to identify potential threat vectors and inform response efforts. At present, it uses a combination of surveillance techniques, including radar, AIS tracking, and satellite monitoring. Data from these systems are synchronized post-collection to get the complete environment picture.
Integrating HAPS capabilities enhances this operation and by extension, maritime protection. Placed at an elevation of several kilometers from Earth, HAPS systems cover wide geographic areas, enabling maritime authorities to gather intel from large stretches of the ocean. 5G ATG connectivity tops this with faster data transfer speeds and low latency. Together with other communication channels, 5G mesh networks has enabled continued connectivity between vessels, ports, and command centers, enabling critical monitoring and surveillance operations. By securely and quickly relaying HAPS payload data to the ground infrastructure at 5G speed, 5G HAPS can allow for much faster analysis and better safety response in maritime.
Airspan’s project is set to go into laboratory and pre-flight testing for clearance for light operations this year, with stratospheric flight trials planned in 2027.
