Eyeing to boost mobile connectivity throughout the country, Airbus’ Aalto HAPS has joined hands with an Indonesia telecom company to use high-altitude drones.
Aalto HAPS, a division of Airbus specialising in high-altitude drones, announced a memorandum of understanding with Indonesian telecommunications firm Dayamitra Telekomunikasi earlier this week.
The agreement seeks to explore how Aalto HAPS’s technology can provide connectivity services across Indonesia and enhance mobile and internet coverage with advanced drone solutions.
The companies are yet to disclose the financial details of the deal.
Aalto HAPS develops solar-powered, fixed-wing drones called Zephyr that operate at altitudes above 60,000 feet. These drones serve as high-altitude platform stations (HAPS) capable of providing 5G connectivity.
They can also be equipped with payloads to support additional services such as wildfire prevention and border control through Earth observation. However, the drones are not built to endure storms, so Aalto is aiming to expand into countries with more favourable weather conditions.
Commenting on the partnership, Theodorus Ardi Hartoko, CEO of Dayamitra Telekomunikasi, stated that the company is receptive to embracing new technologies to strengthen its network, in line with the Indonesian government’s efforts to enhance internet and connectivity services nationwide.
The European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has shared a long-standing partnership with Indonesia for over 40 years, beginning in 1979 when the airline Garuda Indonesia ordered the model A300B4. It claims to be Indonesia’s largest aviation partner, with Indonesian firms supplying aircraft, military, and helicopter components.
