UK stratospheric 5G trial will link to Islander aircraft

News

A group of UK companies has been awarded funding to trial stratospheric High-Altitude Platform (HAP) 5G using a Britten-Norman Islander aircraft.

Britten-Norman

Led by Cambridge’s Stratospheric Platforms Limited (SPL), the consortium is aiming to deliver 5G connectivity from several miles above the Earth via an unmanned, liquid hydrogen-powered aircraft with a 56m wingspan. The lightweight structure combined with the power source should enable the HAP to remain in the stratosphere for up to a week at a time.

Beginning in July 2024, SPL’s system will be tested using a turbine-powered BN2T-4S Islander variant. The trial will be conducted under Britten-Norman’s Civil Aviation Authority test conditions.

“We are delighted to be working with Britten-Norman on this programme,” said Kevin Bean, chief technical officer at SPL. “The Islander is a great workhorse for this kind of engineering because it can be rapidly and extensively modified to accommodate our equipment.

“The role-based type of mission which can readily be executed by the Islander, combined with the stability of the platform, is ideal for a programme where telecommunication trials require predictable performance.”

Register now to continue reading

Thanks for visiting The Engineer. You’ve now reached your monthly limit of news stories. Register for free to unlock unlimited access to all of our news coverage, as well as premium content including opinion, in-depth features and special reports.  

Benefits of registering

  • In-depth insights and coverage of key emerging trends

  • Unrestricted access to special reports throughout the year

  • Daily technology news delivered straight to your inbox

Register
Or continue by

Signing in with your registered email address

Britten-Norman