While satellite companies are telling regulators they can provide broadband to rural areas for less money than employing traditional cell towers, so too, is a Boston-based startup that is testing tethered aerostats, an industrial version of blimps or dirigibles, which are lighter-than-air aircraft.
Altaeros partnered with Ericsson to demonstrate what it’s calling a new, “Super Tower.” Ericsson deployed a multi-sector LTE base station on a SuperTower in late 2017 in Maine, providing broadband speeds with streaming video, according to the announcement. Check out a video of the SuperTower.
Filled with helium, SuperTowers float at about 800 feet high, and can provide equivalent coverage of up to 30 traditional steel towers (or 10,000 sq km), according to the company. Altaeros CEO/CTO Ben Glass says the SuperTowers cost less than fixed cell towers because there’s no siting costs and backhaul infrastructure requirements are minimized.
Altaeros developed the SuperTower to offer operators a new infrastructure option that it says provides the broad coverage advantages of satellites and aerial platforms, while seamlessly integrating with existing handsets by using the same radios, antennas and permitting processes as standard towers. The offering uses Altaeros’ proprietary tethered aerostat design and automation technology as a platform for Ericsson’s 5G-ready high-performance radio system with Multiple-Input and Multiple-Output-capable radios.
“The SuperTowers are an innovative way to allow operators to offer high-speed broadband to underserved rural areas via next-generation LTE technology,” says Amy McCune, Head of Customer Unit Regional Carriers for Ericsson North America. “The platform also establishes the groundwork for them to evolve their rural networks to 5G in the future.”
The floating towers are autonomous; Altaeros has eliminated the need for a ground grew. When a storm moves in, they can ground themselves until the weather clears. They can be deployed for temporary disaster relief or special events, according to Altaeros. The company projects having SuperTowers ready for operators by year-end.
February 19, 2018
Reader Interactions