Publication Date: 17-17 Sept. 2004 Volume: 1, On page(s): 233-238 Vol.1 Location: Gaborone, ISBN: 0-7803-8605-1 INSPEC Accession Number: 8304583 Digital Object Identifier: 10.1109/AFRICON.2004.1406665 Current Version Published: 2005-03-21
Despite advances in terrestrial telecommunications technology, almost three billion of the world's population living in rural locations is still without any telephone facilities. Apart from fixed and mobile satellite networks, new stratospheric communication platforms (SCPs) are the latest space techniques with advanced technology for fixed and all mobile applications, including military and rural solutions. These systems employ unmanned or manned, solar or fuel energy airships or aircraft carrying payloads with transponders and antennas. Therefore, these remote controlled-solar powered airships or aircraft offer a much more cost effective solution for coverage of some region or country including urban, suburban, rural areas, farms and other environments with low population densities. The SCP network offers a better solution than all existing cellular radio systems, with greater speed of transmission than even optical modes. Roaming is enhanced without severe shadowing problems and disturbances inside buildings, and the service costs less. The SCP mission can be integrated with current satellite and cellular systems; the system is more autonomous and discrete and will be the best solution for rural, military and all mobile applications
