SoftBank and Sceye test HAPS services in Japan, target 2027 launch

TL;DR
SoftBank Corp and Sceye conducted their first High Altitude Platform Station service trial over Japan as SoftBank works toward commercial deployment from 2027. The test delivered stable voice and high-capacity data to smartphones, supported emergency alert messaging, and included HAPS-to-drone and edge computing verification.

SoftBank Corp and Sceye conducted their first trial of services using a High Altitude Platform Station positioned over Japan, with SoftBank targeting commercial use of the infrastructure from 2027.

SoftBank said the platform supplied stable voice and high-capacity data communications to smartphones and supported an emergency alert messaging system. The companies also carried out technical verification of HAPS-to-drone communications and edge computing during the trial.

The HAPS aircraft took off from Roswell, New Mexico, flew across the Pacific for 13 days, and was then stationed above Muroto City in Kochi Prefecture, Japan, for the test before returning to the US.

SoftBank said Sceye maintained the platform over the target area for an extended period within a radius as small as 5km, despite stratospheric weather conditions including wind direction and wind speed. SoftBank said the results will support further operational development and communications quality improvements as it works toward a network integrating HAPS with satellite and terrestrial infrastructure.