High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS)

A high-altitude platform station (HAPS) is a communications or observation platform operating in the stratosphere, typically at altitudes of about 18–25 km above the Earth’s surface. HAPS systems may take the form of unmanned solar-powered aircraft, balloons, or airships and are designed to remain quasi-stationary over a designated geographic area for extended periods.

HAPS can provide telecommunications services such as broadband access, mobile backhaul, emergency communications, and surveillance, offering coverage areas comparable to large terrestrial cells but with much lower latency than satellite systems. Because they operate above weather systems and commercial air traffic, HAPS experience relatively stable propagation conditions while remaining accessible for maintenance and upgrade.

HAPS are often considered complementary to terrestrial networks and satellite systems, bridging the gap between ground-based infrastructure and space-based communications, particularly for rural, remote, or disaster-affected regions.