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Helikite balloons can hoist emergency LTE network after natural disaster
We know, we know, Google has the whole hot air balloon thing covered. But this idea is a bit different. It consists of a group of "helikites," or small load-bearing balloon-kite hybrids, which can quickly be launched to form a network of LTE or WLAN masts up to an altitude of 2.5 miles, providing data coverage following an earthquake or tsunami. A standalone rugged suitcase, or "Portable Land Rapid Deployment Unit," contains everything needed for activation in tough conditions. Researchers behind the project, including German R&D firm TriaGnoSys, have even found a way to integrate the temporary network with existing cell towers that remain in tact on the ground -- a feature that makes the system suitable not only for emergencies, but also for expanding mobile coverage during planned events in remote locations. Of course, the helikites would eventually drift apart and lose connectivity, probably after around four days depending on the wind, but these things never travel quite as far as you'd expect.
Business jets to get 3G access in the air
If you're a jet-setting highfalutin business executive, you probably can't afford to live even a few precious hours on your private jet without being connected to the outside world. Executives, fear no longer, because 3Way Networks and Triagnosys have partnered together to build the first 3G communications network that can be installed on any private plane. Contained within a four kilogram (under nine pounds) low power box connects to a satellite signal that communicates with a terrestrial base station. 3Way Networks says that the box will allow 10 simultaneous voice calls and offer HSDPA rates of up to 3.6 MB/sec. No word on if it's actually been field tested by 10 suits who've been strung out on caffeine for days and are on the final leg of a trans-Pacific flight back to New York -- we figure that by that point, they might be actually coming to blows over bandwidth.[Via The Register]
