HAPS in Action: Real-World Use Cases & Strategic Impact

1. HAPS in the Connectivity Landscape

In the telecom sector, HAPS are emerging as a third layer between satellites and terrestrial towers—enabling non-terrestrial network (NTN) integration without the latency of spaceborne systems.

• Bridging the rural gap: In nations with sparse populations or challenging terrain, HAPS can provide 4G/5G coverage without the capital expense of fibre backhaul or hundreds of base stations.

• Maritime coverage: Fishing fleets, cruise ships, and offshore energy installations can stay connected with high-throughput links direct to standard handsets.

• Event-based deployment: A single HAPS could provide mobile coverage for a festival or sporting event without building temporary masts.

Case example:SoftBank’s HAPSMobile conducted successful trials delivering LTE and 5G signals over hundreds of kilometres—demonstrating how existing handsets can connect to a stratospheric base station without hardware changes.

2. Defence and Security Applications

For defence agencies, HAPS fill a persistent ISR role that traditionally required either expensive satellites or fuel-hungry manned aircraft.

• Surveillance: Electro-optical/infrared payloads can monitor large areas 24/7 for weeks.

• Communications relay: Acting as airborne repeaters for forces operating beyond line-of-sight.

• Maritime domain awareness: Tracking vessels in choke points or exclusive economic zones.

• Electronic intelligence (ELINT): Monitoring RF emissions over wide areas without provoking the geopolitical sensitivities of a space overflight.

RAF Zephyr programme:The UK’s Ministry of Defence, working with Airbus, has been testing Zephyr as a persistent surveillance and comms platform. In a 2022 trial, Zephyr stayed aloft for 64 days before landing, setting endurance records and proving viability for multi-month deployments.

3. Disaster Relief and Emergency Response

When terrestrial networks fail—whether due to hurricanes, earthquakes, or conflict—HAPS can restore connectivity within hours.

• Communications restoration: Providing a 4G/5G overlay for emergency services and affected populations.

• Imagery for situational awareness: Delivering real-time aerial imagery to assess damage and plan relief operations.

• Self-contained power: Solar operation removes dependence on local fuel or grid availability.

Case example:While Google’s Project Loon ceased operations, its deployments in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria proved the viability of high-altitude comms restoration—technology now migrating to fixed-wing HAPS platforms.

4. Environmental and Climate Monitoring

HAPS offer something unique in environmental science—persistent, localised sensing at resolutions higher than satellites and longer than drones.

Applications include:

• Measuring greenhouse gas emissions in industrial zones.

• Tracking deforestation and illegal logging in near real time.

• Monitoring glacier retreat, ice shelf stability, and polar ice melt.

• Agricultural precision monitoring—identifying crop stress and optimising irrigation.

Because they can hover for days or weeks over the same region, HAPS can capture time-series data critical for climate modelling and policy decision making.

5. Industry and Commercial Applications

Beyond telecom and government, commercial sectors are exploring HAPS for:

• Mining: Remote asset monitoring, safety surveillance, and comms for on-site staff.

• Oil & gas: Offshore platform connectivity, inspection imagery, and spill monitoring.

• Logistics: Real-time tracking of goods in remote supply chains.

• Insurance: Rapid claims assessment after natural disasters.

In each case, the advantage is the ability to lease coverage as a service, rather than invest in fixed infrastructure.

6. Lessons from Early Deployments

From current programmes worldwide, several strategic lessons emerge:

1. Platform endurance is the differentiator — more than payload size, it’s the ability to stay on station for weeks that defines the ROI.

2. Interoperability with terrestrial devices accelerates adoption — platforms that require no special handset or receiver gain faster market traction.

3. Public–private partnerships work best — national telecom regulators, defence ministries, and industry vendors must align on spectrum, airspace, and operational doctrine.

4. Resilience planning is key — HAPS are vulnerable to stratospheric weather, so redundancy in fleet and rapid redeployment capability is essential.

7. The “So-What” for Decision Makers

The takeaway for boardrooms and government committees is clear: HAPS are not replacing satellites or towers—they are adding a strategic, flexible third layer.

The business case is strongest in:

• Geographically challenging markets (mountainous nations, islands).

• High-value monitoring zones (borders, EEZs, critical infrastructure).

• Rapid-response markets (disaster relief, temporary events, surge capacity).

Ignoring HAPS means missing an emerging competitive advantage in both telecom service differentiation and national resilience strategies.

“The stratosphere is no longer empty - it’s filling with platforms that can change your business model.”