|
Previous page... Technology
Operations
The network design also caters to operational problems of maintaining the aircraft in the stratosphere. It is envisaged that long-haul aircraft will be used for this purpose, which remain airborne for as much as 12 hours at a stretch. Another aircraft will already be airborne by the time the first one finishes its haul and a "soft" handing over will be done, implying that the user will not lose connectivity for an instant. This will also ensure the maintenance and servicing of the aircraft on the ground. Since the aircraft will be operating at an altitude of 60,000 feet, they will also be impervious to weather vagaries like storms, cyclones etc.
Financial feasibility: Broadband communications using aircraft is a relatively new technology and the commercial costs of operating long haul aircraft, manpower requirements, maintenance, establishing dedicated gateways, developing transmission pods, cost of the Business premise equipment (BPE) and Consumer premise equipment (CPE), etc., are still being worked out. However, the major factor favoring this technology is that unlike satellite systems, which are "all or nothing" multi-billion dollar investments, the HALO Network can be financed one market at a time.
Conclusion: Given the lack of infrastructure to support the current and projected demands for broadband data communications, an intense race has begun to deploy broadband networks to satisfy businesses and consumers. With its superior technical specifications and comparably low capital expenditures, broadband communication using high altitude aircraft looks to be a sure fire winner.
Concluded.
Click here to read other articles by Anjan
|
 |
|
|
