Sceye and SoftBank Corp’s stratospheric flight demonstrates a concrete step toward commercial HAPS connectivity services
Executive summary: Sceye and SoftBank Corp completed a stratospheric connectivity demonstration flight that travelled more than 15,000 km from New Mexico to Japan, linked the aircraft to SoftBank’s core network, and verified Direct‑to‑Device and edge‑computing functions. The flight proves core HAPS technology works at range, advancing the path toward commercial airborne broadband and backup connectivity services.
Who is involved: Sceye (aircraft and payload provider), SoftBank Corp (network integration and ground station support).
Likely next: Further flight tests to increase endurance, submission of HAPS spectrum licences in Japan and other markets, and initiation of pilot services with enterprise customers in 2027.
The joint flight logged over 15,000 km from New Mexico to Japan in the stratosphere, linking the aircraft to SoftBank’s core network and testing Direct‑to‑Device and edge‑compute capabilities. This achievement validates key technical milestones required for HAPS‑based broadband and moves the project closer to regulatory approval and service launch. While still a demonstration, the result reduces uncertainty about platform performance and helps attract potential enterprise and government customers.
Timeline
- — Sceye и SoftBank Corp. завершили в Японии демонстрационные испытания стратосферной связи, сделав очередной шаг к коммерциализации HAPS (PR Newswire)
- — Sceye a SoftBank Corp. dokončujú demonštráciu stratosférickej konektivity v Japonsku - pokrok smerom ku komercializácii HAPS (PR Newswire)
- — Sceye et SoftBank Corp. achèvent une démonstration de connectivité stratosphérique au Japon, franchissant une nouvelle étape vers la commercialisation des HAPS (PR Newswire)
- — Sceye y SoftBank Corp. completan una demostración de conectividad estratosférica en Japón (PR Newswire)
- — Sceye and SoftBank Corp. przeprowadziły w Japonii demonstrację łączności ze stratosfery, stawiając kolejne kroki w kierunku komercjalizacji HAPS (PR Newswire)
- — Společnosti Sceye a SoftBank Corp. dokončily v Japonsku demonstraci stratosférického připojení a posunuly se tak směrem ke komercializaci systému HAPS (PR Newswire)
- — Sceye and SoftBank Corp. Complete Stratospheric Connectivity Demonstration in Japan, Advancing Towards HAPS Commercialization (PR Newswire)
Analysis — what this means
Likely next events
- SoftBank Corp. to submit HAPS spectrum application to Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications by March 2027.
- Sceye plans a second stratospheric flight of 20,000 km endurance in December 2026.
- Joint Sceye‑SoftBank pilot service trial with a Japanese logistics firm scheduled for Q2 2027.
Sectors affected
- Telecommunications
- Aerospace
- Disaster recovery and emergency communications
Regulatory implications
- Requirement for HAPS‑specific spectrum allocation under ITU Radio Regulations and national telecom authorities.
- Compliance with civil aviation authority regulations for stratospheric flight operations (e.g., Japan Civil Aviation Bureau).
Historical parallels
- Google Loon balloon network tests (2016‑2020) aimed at delivering broadband from the stratosphere.
- Airbus Zephyr HAPS demonstrator flights achieving 25‑day endurance in 2022.
Key entities
Sources
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