Airship to provide blanket wireless services
posted July 8th 2004 9:30AM
SansWire Networks (such a clever name eh?) is demonstrating its "Stratellite"
technolgy later on this week. Bad names aside, the concept is interesting and the mock-up looks like a whale, which
bodes well for business (but gets serious nerd points with the Final Fantasy crowd). They plan on using "airships" (not
balloons or blimps, oh no!) 13 miles up as wireless transmission platforms. It's pretty much the same principle as
communications satellites, with many of the same line-of-sight benefits only lower, cheaper, and easier to maintain.
Each airship will use GPS to maintain a fixed position and be able to cover 300,000 square miles with wireless
broadband, cellular, 3G/4G mobile, MMDS, paging, fixed wireless telephony, and HDTV goodness. Perhaps
some carriers (we're not naming any names) should consider getting a couple for New York until they sort
themselves out this summer.
I've been hearing stories like this for YEARS! Probably read the first story about some high altitude plane that would be wi-fi to the masses back in 1996 or 97. Haven't seen any materialize yet.
LAME.
there one problem with this idea, altho it will probably work, especially in places like new york, but it seems very impractical. the target is in the wind, the elements, its being powered by a fuel, needs serviceing/refilling, is always moving. it is good that you dont need 14million dolars and a trip to nasa, and that if it breaks u dont need to ship up a new one like satalites, but still, its a horrible idea...