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UK invests $94M in drone-based internet as Starlink alternative

The UK's Advanced Research & Invention Agency (ARIA) is investing $94 million over three and a half years into a project called Enduring Atmospheric Platforms. This initiative aims to develop high-altitude pseudo-satellites (HAPS), essentially advanced drones, to provide internet services as an alternative to satellite constellations like Starlink. The program focuses on three technical areas: underlying technologies, system integration and testing, and actual deployment, with proposals including drone constellations, wireless power transfer via lasers or microwaves, and even novel methods using gravity waves. AI

IMPACT This initiative could offer a new avenue for global internet connectivity, potentially impacting areas underserved by current satellite or terrestrial networks.

RANK_REASON Government funding for a novel technological approach to internet provision. [lever_c_demoted from significant: ic=2 ai=0.4]

Read on Mastodon — mastodon.social →

AI-generated summary · Google Gemini · from 2 sources. How we write summaries →

UK invests $94M in drone-based internet as Starlink alternative

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Government funding for a novel technological approach to internet provision. [lever_c_demoted from significant: ic=2 ai=0.4]
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2 independent sources
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product, infra
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54 days old
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COVERAGE [2]

  1. Tom's Hardware TIER_1 English(EN) · Jowi Morales ·

    UK research agency backs drone-based internet service experiment with lasers, microwaves, and gravity waves used for wireless power — Britain invests $94 million into Starlink alternative

    The UK's research agency is looking at airborne drones as an alternative to Starlink and other satellite internet services.

  2. Mastodon — mastodon.social TIER_1 English(EN) · [email protected] ·

    UK research agency backs drone-based internet service experiment with lasers, microwaves, and gravity waves used for wireless power — Britain invests $94 millio

    UK research agency backs drone-based internet service experiment with lasers, microwaves, and gravity waves used for wireless power — Britain invests $94 million into Starlink alternative The UK's research agency is looking at airborne drones as an alternative to Starlink and oth…