Other related projects

Related FP6 projects:

• BROADWAN

• BREAD

Analysing Broadband Access for Rural Development (A-BARD) is a 24 month Coordination Action started in January 2005 to research rural broadband provision and use, as part of the Scientific Support to Policies ( SSP ) in the EU Sixth Framework Programme.

This SSA provides an ongoing platform for ICT standards/RTD issues and prepares generic information to improve standards awareness.

This IP is delivering applications from satellite direct to a normal 3G phone. Work on broadcast / multicast is of direct relevance.

A STREP that is developing rapidly deployable communications infrastructure to cope with natural disasters.

CA dealing with business models and socio-economic issues primarily for systems beyond 3G. Their knowledge of emerging markets is of particular relevance

This IP is developing a high-speed broadband access interface, for use in a variety of scenarios including communications to high-speed vehicles.

Link to Cordis site detailing more projects

There are a variety of aerial platform research activities taking place worldwide:

• The Japanese "SkyNet" project funded by CRL/TAO/NAL which is a large project (spending is 100M euro to date) that is developing a HAP, and equipment for delivery of broadband and 3G communications. The Japanese project in conjunction with Aerovironment/SkyTower, a spin-off from NASA, has recently demonstrated communications services from their Pathfinder Plus Craft.
  Japanese "SkyNet" Project,
  AeroVironment,
  SkyTower
• ESA has recently set up a study into broadband delivery from HAPs.
• British National Space Centre has let a modest study contract to BT, University of York, and SkyLARC Technologies Ltd to examine the implications of V-Band for HAPs and satellite.
• In the UK the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council has awarded a study contract to the University of Surrey, to examine 3G from HAPs.
• A similar but more modest project is underway in Korea, jointly managed by the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) and Korean Aerospace Research Institute (KARI).
• Indonesia Posts & Telecommunications is developing a HAP based project.
• In the UK two aeronautical companies wish to develop HAPs – Advanced Technologies Group (Stratsat) and Lindstrand Balloons.
• In the US, SkyStation and Angel Technologies have also carried out a number of studies into communications delivery from HAPs. Recently, Sanswire Technologies Inc announced that it would develop its "stratolite" HAP, to deliver high-speed Internet access (Link to article). Additionally, there are a handful of projects under development, some of which are financed for military purposes as part of the "Homeland Defense" initiative - Boeing subsidiary companies are involved here.
• To sidestep the problem that commercially available HAPs are still some years away, a number of innovative companies are developing broadband services that will use tethered aerostat based platforms, e.g. SkyLINC Ltd and Platforms Wireless International.
• The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has had wide ranging activities to do with spectrum regulation for HAPs, taking place in working parties (e.g. WP9B, WP4-9S, and to a lesser extent WP8F). This work will build on these findings and it is expected that techniques developed in WP2.2 will be submitted to these working parties. Alternatively, contributions may be presented by CAPANINA partners such as BT.

Earlier Projects:

• HeliNet