Wi-Fi balloon delivers 4Mbps broadband

Capanina project could provide wireless comms in remote regions or disaster areas

A European research team has successfully launched and tested the world's first Wi-Fi balloon, raising hopes that high-tech dirigibles could be used to provide wireless communications in remote regions or disaster areas.

The Capanina consortium, led by the University of York, said that data from a test flight of a Wi-Fi ready balloon floating at an altitude of 24,000m confirmed broadband speeds of 1.25Gbps. The project was first announced in December last year.

The test flight was conducted in Sweden during August using a 12,000 square metre helium filled balloon and old fashioned 802.11b wireless technology.

The research team explained that they boosted the signal so that it extended the range from 100m to 60km. This resulted in the high-power radio antenna system designed by the University of York showing data rates of 4Mbps.

Capanina now aims to deliver wireless broadband at speeds of up to 120Mbps and ultimately to have a number of balloons, or High Altitude Platforms, placed in the stratosphere at altitudes of around 20km. Each balloon would serve a region of around 60km in diameter.

Dr David Grace, the project's principal scientific officer, said: "Proving the ability to operate a high data rate link from a moving stratospheric balloon is a critical step in moving towards the longer term aim of providing data rates of 120Mbps."

The link is currently only one-way, and concerns remain over the difficulty of maintaining the position of the balloon and avoiding air traffic.