A novel broadband all-wireless access network using stratospheric platforms

This paper proposes a novel broadband access network using a number of stratospheric platforms. This is a new wireless infrastructure, and consists of wireless access links between the platform and terminals in the Ka-band and a mesh-like network using optical inter-platform links. One platform covers a 40 km/spl times/40 km area with 64 beams of an onboard multi-beam antenna. Thus, the cell size is almost as same as that of current cellular systems. This network can provide 25 Mbps to more than 156 Mbps access links and a flexible wireless ATM network to subscribers.