Sun-Powered Plane Spreads Broadband
News.com is running an article about SkyTower and their solar powered, crewless airplanes that provide wireless broadband and 3G service from 70,000 feet above the ground. They've been running tests in Kauai which they say were successful. They transmitted a few hours of 3G service to a DoCoMo handset. Since the planes are solar powered, the company says they can stay airborne for up to 6 months at a time. Seems like it could be a cheaper, more effective solution to the various LEO satellite internet attempts from the last few years. Of course, I still wonder about latency issues. Then again, imagine how quick your broadband access would be if you got to just sit in the plane the whole time...
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