Sceye to deploy solar-powered stratospheric internet platform in Japan by 2026
The 200-foot High-Altitude Platform Station will operate in the stratosphere to supplement 5G networks, offering an alternative to satellite-based connectivity.
New Mexico-based technology firm Sceye plans to launch a 200-foot solar-powered High-Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) to Japan by August 2026. The craft, described by the company as a "giant silver bullet," will cross the Pacific to operate approximately 18 kilometres above the ocean surface. Its primary objective is to supplement Softbank’s 5G network by beaming data directly to devices from the stratosphere.
Sceye, pronounced “sky,” is one of several entities developing HAPS technology, a class of airborne craft that includes planes, balloons, and helium-filled oblong structures. Operating in the stratosphere allows these platforms to cover large geographic areas while remaining significantly closer to the ground than low-orbiting satellites. This proximity reduces the energy required to transmit signals, offering what Sceye CEO and founder Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen describes as "space-like conditions" without the associated costs or orbital complexities.
The platform utilises solar energy to power electric fans that correct for wind drift, ensuring the craft remains stationary over its target area. To function effectively, the aircraft must be engineered to be light enough for sustained flight yet robust enough to carry essential systems. It must also store sufficient solar energy during daylight hours to provide around-the-clock power for its positioning mechanisms.
Sceye has already demonstrated the viability of its technology through previous test flights. In 2024, the company conducted initial tests, followed by a spring flight where the craft remained aloft for 12 days. During this mission, the platform flew to the coast of Brazil and spent more than 88 hours parked in various locations, proving its ability to maintain position against atmospheric disturbances.
Other companies are also advancing HAPS technology for diverse applications. Airbus subsidiary Aalto envisions its platforms being used for Earth observation and delivering internet to disaster sites. Sceye expects its platform to eventually assist satellite operators in better serving densely populated areas, with Frandsen noting that spotting such platforms in the sky may one day become as common as seeing ships at port or trains on the tracks.
