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Sceye and SoftBank Achieve Breakthrough After Stratospheric Trials

In a significant technological feat, Sceye, an American company focused on aerospace and materials science, in collaboration with SoftBank Corp., has successfully concluded its stratospheric communication trials in Japan. This success is a pivotal step towards the commercial realization of High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS). The trials not only showcased the potential of HAPS as a new layer of communication infrastructure but also highlighted the operational capabilities required to transform the stratosphere into a functional telecommunications network.

The Journey from New Mexico to Japan

Launched on August 9, 2026, from New Mexico, the Service Test 1 (ST1) platform traveled over 15,000 kilometers to Japan, taking approximately 13 days to complete its journey in the stratosphere. Upon reaching the airspace over Japan, ST1 effectively demonstrated its capability to provide mobile broadband connectivity to standard, unmodified devices via SoftBank's core network. This included Direct-to-Device communications, peripheral computing, and data exchange with drones, all exemplifying a greater three-dimensional communication system.

Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen, founder and CEO of Sceye, stated that this flight marks a turning point for the commercial potential of HAPS, emphasizing how the technology could complement existing networks and provide robust communication capabilities at a large scale.

Optimizing Stratospheric Infrastructure

The stratosphere serves as an optimal location for establishing this type of infrastructure, being close enough to Earth to deliver high-bandwidth connectivity while also being elevated enough to cover vast areas. Sceye's HAPS platforms maintain their altitude and positioning within a designated operational zone over extended periods, functioning similarly to geostationary satellites but at a fraction of the distance and cost.

In 2025, SoftBank significantly invested in Sceye's HAPS infrastructure, viewing it as a scalable solution that can work alongside both ground-based towers and satellite constellations. This partnership is poised to advance the concept of HAPS and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs) as next-generation infrastructure, ensuring reliable connectivity, especially in disaster scenarios, while laying the foundation for future technological advancements in AI, IoT, aerial communication, and 6G networks.

A Pioneering Communication Solution

During the ST1 mission, a notable feature was the SceyeCELL module, designed as the world’s first 'cell tower in the sky,' which aims to provide broadband mobile access directly from the stratosphere. This system is expected to cover an area equivalent to about 500 ground-based cell towers once fully deployed, thereby extending the reach of mobile connectivity significantly.

The trials included vital features like messaging, voice calling, internet access, and video streaming, as well as emergency communication services, essential for large-scale disaster responses.

Noteworthy Achievements of the ST1 Mission:

• - Travelled over 15,000 km across the Pacific Ocean to Japan in 13 days.
• - Operated within Japanese airspace successfully for over a week.
• - Maintained its prescribed operational zone with a position-holding radius of just 5 km.
• - Functioned at approximately 16.5 km, providing telecommunications and emergency communication capabilities concurrently while also interfacing with drones.
• - Delivered communications performance comparable to terrestrial networks, while minimizing interference for ground stations.
• - Recorded an average response time of 68 milliseconds for bi-directional data transfer, demonstrating over a 40% reduction in latency compared to traditional cloud processing methods.

Future Prospects

As of the current update, the ST1 platform continues its journey over the Pacific Ocean, returning towards the United States. Junichi Miyakawa, President and CEO of SoftBank Corp., remarked on their vision to develop next-generation communication infrastructures that ensure seamless connectivity across land, sky, and space. The successful trials signify a critical advancement toward the commercialization of HAPS, which will occupy a vital role in the broader communication ecosystem.

About Sceye

Founded in 2014, Sceye focuses on developing stratospheric platforms aiming to enhance connectivity between people and ensure the protection of our planet through advanced HAPS technologies, facilitating widespread connectivity and climate monitoring, along with natural disaster management.

For more information, contact Sceye at [email protected]