What is HAPS Technology?
As the first country in the world, Saudi Arabia has successfully demonstrated a trial of 5G technology using a High Altitude Platform System (5G HAPS).
HAPS are radio stations located on an object that floats at the stratosphere layer and at a specified, nominal, fixed point relative to the Earth, providing telecommunication services coverage over a wide geographical range, with high quality signal.
On February 5th 2022, Saudi Arabia demonstrated the first global successful trial to provide 5G coverage in the Red Sea Project using High Altitude Platform Systems (5G HAPS). The trial has provided high-speed and low-latency connectivity, which will foster the Kingdom's leadership in the field of communications and information technology.
The trial was facilitated by CST, the Saudi digital regulator, in cooperation with Stratospheric Platforms company, using a Grob 520 aircraft which transmits radio waves from the sky towards the ground to be the first of its kind in the world to provide 5G coverage through HAPS. The trial will foster the provision of high-speed communication services to remote areas, enabling emergency communications and temporary coverage for events and tourist hotspots.
The tests included a range of network use cases
- Downlink / Uplink speed
- VoNR
- Web browsing
- OTT Calls
- Content streaming
| Technical Parameter | Trial Value |
|---|---|
| Altitude Level | 14,000 m |
| Endurance | +5 Hours |
| Covered Area | 450 km² |
| DL Data Rate | Higher than 90 Mbps |
| Connecting Users | In land, sea & air simultaneously |
| Providing | 5G Coverage |
| Frequency Band | 2100 MHz |
| Channel BW | 10 MHz |
Partners
