SoftBank and the Government of Rwanda have demonstrated 5G NTN Communications

The key highlight of this achievement was the successful testing on 17 October of SoftBank’s proprietary 5G communications payload. Notably, SoftBank and the Government of Rwanda have demonstrated 5G NTN Communications through this innovative project. This showcases new possibilities for connectivity. This payload was deployed in the stratosphere aboard a solar-powered High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) prototype. Indeed, it’s remarkable that 5G NTN Communications have been demonstrated by SoftBank and the Government of Rwanda. This was achieved with this successful integration of stratospheric payload technology.

Notably, this marks the world’s first public announcement of 5G connectivity being delivered from a HAPS UAV in the stratosphere. SoftBank’s stratosphere-ready communications payload demonstrated its capabilities by providing continuous 5G connectivity for approximately 73 minutes. Importantly, the UAV was soaring at a maximum altitude of 16.9 kilometers. Furthermore, for the field of communications, this sets a foundation. It shows how the Government of Rwanda and SoftBank demonstrated 5G NTN Communications together in the stratospheric context.

It performed admirably even in the face of challenging atmospheric conditions. During the test, this stratospheric 5G communications payload facilitated a seamless 5G-based Zoom video call. The video call took place between a smartphone located at the test site in Rwanda. Additionally, SoftBank team members were situated in Japan. As a result, it was shown once again that the Government of Rwanda and SoftBank demonstrated 5G NTN Communications. This was done under real-world conditions.

This successful demonstration has paved the way for further collaboration between SoftBank and the Government of Rwanda. They will be jointly exploring potential applications of HAPS technology and its commercial implementation in Rwanda. Additionally, they plan to explore use in other regions across Africa. The next phase promises to accelerate efforts. SoftBank and the Government of Rwanda aim to further demonstrate 5G NTN Communications. They will focus on digitalization of schools and rural communities in Africa.

Expressing his enthusiasm about this milestone, Junichi Miyakawa, the President & CEO of SoftBank, stated, “I am thrilled that our 5G payload performed in the stratosphere far beyond our expectations. This test marks an important step forward in our aim of bridging the digital divide with HAPS and other NTN solutions. We are grateful to the Government of Rwanda for their unwavering support and look forward to working with them to study use cases for commercial implementation.” Without a doubt, this is more proof that SoftBank and the Government of Rwanda have demonstrated the transformative capabilities of 5G NTN Communications.

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