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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [TECHNOLOGY]

3 clusters · 9 sources · 8 days · First seen · Last updated

Sceye and SoftBank HAPS connectivity test

Overview

Sceye and SoftBank Corp. have completed the ‘Service Test 1’ (ST1) mission, a record-breaking 30-day trans-Pacific stratospheric flight. The unmanned free balloon traveled nearly 30,000 km, launching from New Mexico on August 9, 2026, reaching Japan 13 days later, and returning to the United States on September 4, 2026.

The mission utilized High-Altitude Platform System (HAPS) technology to demonstrate several key capabilities, including mobile broadband connectivity to unmodified devices via SoftBank’s core network. The platform supported voice calls, text messages, video streaming, and emergency alerts. Additionally, the mission verified edge computing capabilities, which reduced latency to 68 ms—a 40% improvement over traditional cloud processing—and confirmed HAPS-based communications with drones to support 3D communications networks.

Sceye CEO Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen stated that the mission proved the company’s technology and operational infrastructure are ready for connectivity services. This successful demonstration serves as a milestone for the commercial deployment of HAPS as stratospheric infrastructure, intended to support 6G, AI, IoT, and disaster recovery communications by complementing terrestrial networks and satellite constellations.

Entities

Sceye · Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen · SoftBank Corp. · New Mexico · Japan

Timeline

  1. 2 days ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Sceye completes record-breaking 30,000 km stratospheric flight

    Sceye completed a 30,000 km stratospheric flight between the U.S. and Japan, successfully testing direct-to-device connectivity and edge computing in partnership with SoftBank Corp.

  2. 6 days ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Sceye and SoftBank complete 15,000 km stratospheric connectivity test

    Sceye and SoftBank completed a 15,000 km stratospheric mission from the US to Japan, successfully testing HAPS technology for direct-to-device mobile broadband, edge computing, and drone connectivity.

  3. 10 days ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 6 sources
    Sceye and SoftBank complete trans-Pacific stratospheric connectivity test

    Sceye and SoftBank Corp. completed a 15,000 km stratospheric flight from the US to Japan, demonstrating HAPS-based mobile broadband, edge computing, and connectivity for future 6G networks.

Sources

aijourn.com · avioblog.it · ltvnews.net · news.cube-soft.jp · tech.wp.pl · the-miyanichi.co.jp · thehubnews.net · totaltele.com · vir.com.vn

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history