Satellites are a boon to the telecommunications industry because they
can beam signals to anywhere on the planet. However, they are extremely
expensive to develop, launch and maintain. Europe and Japan are developing
elevated platforms as a more economical alternative to conventional satellites
for transmitting broadband services to urban areas. An elevated platform
can be a tower, a tethered balloon, an aircraft or a free-flying balloon.
This study will explore the feasibility of setting up a central experimental
facility dedicated to elevated platforms. A variety of customers could
use such a facility to test out technology for communications, remote
sensing and surveillance.
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