Airplane-Aided Integrated Networking for 6G Wireless: Will It Work?

As demand for wireless connectivity increases, communication technology is moving toward integrating terrestrial networks with space networks. Creating this integrated space and terrestrial network (ISTN) is critically important for industries such as logistics, mining, agriculture, fisheries, and defense. However, a number of significant technological challenges must be overcome for ISTN through low-cost airborne platforms and high-data-rate backbone links.