#USA #SoftBank #Sceye #HAPS #Moriarty

Sceye Secures Strategic Investment from SoftBank Corp.

In a significant move for the aerospace industry, Sceye, a U.S.-based company specializing in High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS), has secured a strategic investment from SoftBank Corp., a major player in the telecommunications sector. This partnership marks a crucial step forward in the development of stratospheric connectivity services, which are set to launch in Japan by 2026.

The investment is part of Sceye's ongoing Series C funding round, with SoftBank not only bringing financial backing but also committing to an early deployment of HAPS in Japan. This partnership underscores SoftBank's long-standing commitment to promoting HAPS technology as a vital infrastructure solution to enhance connectivity and address global challenges.

Shifting Towards a 3D Telecommunications Landscape

While traditional mobile networks primarily focus on two-dimensional coverage for devices such as smartphones and vehicles, the evolution into the 6G telecommunications era brings forth a need for three-dimensional connectivity. Sceye’s innovations aim to bridge the gap by providing solutions that cater to emerging technologies, including drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), enhancing operational effectiveness and connectivity.

The collaboration with SoftBank is expected to bolster the resilience of telecommunications infrastructure, enabling better service recovery during large-scale disasters like earthquakes and extending coverage to rural and difficult-to-reach areas, such as mountainous regions and remote islands. With HAPS’s capabilities offering faster speeds and lower latency compared to conventional satellite communications, the partnership is poised to revolutionize the delivery of communication services.

Sceye's Milestones and Future Objectives

Sceye’s commitment to technical excellence is evident from its successful flight program in 2024, during which the company achieved a full diurnal flight in the stratosphere, remaining operational for over 24 hours. This achievement confirms the feasibility of maintaining geostationary platforms below orbital altitudes, a key factor solidifying the partnership with SoftBank.

Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen, CEO and Founder of Sceye, expressed confidence in the partnership, stating, “SoftBank brings a wealth of experience in non-terrestrial connectivity and has long championed the stratosphere as the next frontier for solving pressing challenges.” He emphasized the importance of this investment in validating Sceye's platform and in facilitating the company's acceleration towards commercial service.

SoftBank Corp. has been a pioneer in developing HAPS-based technologies since 2017. Junichi Miyakawa, President and CEO of SoftBank, highlighted the importance of this partnership in expanding telecommunications access where traditional networks may falter, particularly in disaster recovery scenarios. This vision aligns seamlessly with Sceye's dedication to building an alternative infrastructure that enhances connectivity and real-time environmental monitoring.

Conclusion

The partnership between Sceye and SoftBank exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to modern communication challenges, positioning both companies at the forefront of the next generation of telecommunications. The planned HAPS services will not only broaden network coverage across Japan but also serve as a crucial tool for realtime communication recovery in emergency situations. As they move toward 2026, both companies showcase a collaborative commitment to innovation and resilience in the face of emerging global needs.