A group of UK companies has successfully completed trials of airborne 5G infrastructure.

The technology involves embedding transmitters in aircraft which provide 5G signals to facilitate connectivity both in the air and on the ground.

The airborne tests follow trials on the ground with BT at their Adastral Park facility.

It has various use cases such as quickly restoring networks after major disasters like earthquakes or tsunamis where traditional mobile network infrastructure has been disrupted.

Stratospheric Platforms Ltd (SPL), a non-terrestrial networks telecoms developer, tested the technology on aircraft provided by manufacturer Britten-Norman.

The trial, conducted by Britten-Norman’s Flight Test Organisation, aimed to demonstrate the aircraft’s capability to operate safely with the large 5G phased array antenna onboard.

Key aspects of the flight test programme included assessment of aircraft performance and handling qualities, which covered both normal and emergency operation.

SPL said the technology is emissions free and will be powered by clean hydrogen. The company added the trials represent a “significant” milestone in airborne telecommunications which could provide lead to connection speeds of up to 200 Mbps over 15,000km2.

The next phase of the project will involve testing the technology via a connection to a private UK-based national 5G telecommunications network.

“Our commitment to delivering high-altitude, zero-carbon, long-endurance communication platforms will revolutionise how the world stays connected, especially in remote and underserved regions,” said Richard Deakin, chief executive at SPL. “We believe that our cutting-edge technology will provide unprecedented opportunities for global communication and create a more connected and inclusive world.”

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