The Potential Use of High Altitude Platform Station in Rural Telecommunication Infrastructure

Abstract

Many developing and less developed countries still need to develop its telecommunication infrastructures especially in rural area and remote area to enable the economic and social developments. Investment and operation costs are still major obstacles, due to the remoteness and lack of other infrastructures that support the telecommunication infrastructure deployment since solution are still rely on the terrestrial (cables and wireless) and satellite communication systems in term of cost, capacity and quality. In finding a compromise solution, the utilization of high altitude platform station (HAPS), a stratospheric airborne communication platform, as an alternative solution to the problems. In certain extents HAPS needs a lower investment and operation costs, while providing high quality and sufficient capacity. HAPS would be good alternative infrastructure solution for rural and remote area. This paper identifies the current problems in rural telecommunication: HAPS concept, current status of HAPS (technology and regulatory aspects), business model of HAPS and recommendation for HAPS implementation.