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.
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