Communications Platform
A communications platform that can provide internet access to the "other 3 Billion" who don't have it.
There are 2.8B people without Internet access in Asia alone, far more than all current internet users. They represent the future growth of the internet, but providing them internet access means solving several problems:
There are 2.8B people without Internet access in Asia alone, far more than all current internet users. They represent the future growth of the internet, but providing them internet access means solving several problems:
- Infrastructure: There is little or no existing internet infrastructure, a solution must be self sufficient and provide routing, switching and internet backbone as well as access.
- Cost: Incomes are very low, an internet solution must be low cost to subscribers
- Density: The population density is high. This means a solution needs to provide a lot of bandwidth per square km.
StratoSolar communications platform solution:
Communications platform features:
- Low platform cost, $2M to $4M depending on equipment, $1/month subscriber cost
- Multiple (greater than 100) spot beam coverage over an area exceeding 15,000km2 provides total bandwidth exceeding 1Tb/s
- Rapid deployment in days, No Infrastructure needed
- Internet backbone connection via reliable, weather-free, high bandwidth, point to point links, between platforms up to 300 km apart and/or between platforms and low earth orbit satellites using:
- High frequency microwave wireless links
- Free Space Optical links using Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing
- Or single mode fiber optic communications links down the tethers where backbone infrastructure is available near the platform.
Communications platform features:
- Large payload > 10 Tonnes
- Large area for antenna > 30,000m2
- Large 24/7/365/30 PV/gravity storage power > 10kW-100kW
- Permanent (30 years), fixed position in the sky at 20km altitude
- Platform can use standard 19” rack data center equipment
Wireless Communications Platform
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The small system shown in the adjacent picture on the left is the smallest tethered platform that can be deployed and maintain station keeping at 20km altitude under all stratospheric wind and all worst case weather conditions in the troposphere. This platform with a small PV array and gravity energy storage providing tens to hundreds of kW (and without HVDC transmission) is an ideal platform for many wireless communications applications.
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Example of a platform over Dhaka, Bangladesh
These images show various views of a communications platform positioned at altitude 20km near Dhaka, Bangladesh. The light green circular area on the ground shows the area supplied with over 1T b/s broadband Internet access by the platform. This area contains a population of about 20 million people. About eight such platforms would provide complete coverage for all of Bangladesh, in which there are about 150 million people without internet access. This would be sufficient bandwidth to supply every household in Bangladesh with broadband internet access for $1.00/month.
Free space optical (FSO) links or point to point wireless links between platforms would provide a high speed internet backbone. The internet switches and routers are on the platforms. With no dependence on infrastructure on the ground and no susceptibility of the platforms to damage from storms or floods, this would be a highly reliable internet network infrastructure for a country with little infrastructure and which is highly prone to damage from major storms and floods.
Free space optical (FSO) links or point to point wireless links between platforms would provide a high speed internet backbone. The internet switches and routers are on the platforms. With no dependence on infrastructure on the ground and no susceptibility of the platforms to damage from storms or floods, this would be a highly reliable internet network infrastructure for a country with little infrastructure and which is highly prone to damage from major storms and floods.
WISP Platform near Dhaka Internet coverage area. The outline of other coverage areas is barely visible. Eight to ten such coverage areas cover all of Bangladesh. If These wireless platforms are expanded into power platforms as well over time, they would supply all power needs as well as communications.
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