New Coverage Takes to the Skies

World Mobile tests the feasibility of mounting cellular base stations on aerostats in Mozambique.

Much of the world remains uncovered by mobile networks, including many populated rural areas. That’s primarily because it isn’t economically feasible to build conventional base stations near small villages and hamlets. Entrepreneurs are looking to address this challenge with innovative solutions. One of these is to use a tethered aerostat as an aerial base station that can cover a much larger geographic area than a conventional cellular tower.