- The aircraft will test how stratospheric connectivity can support real-time 5G services over a 15-kilometre radius.
World Mobile Stratospheric (WMS) has announced a collaboration with Britten-Norman to demonstrate a pioneering airborne 5G communication system using a BN2T-4S Islander aircraft. The partnership marks the first major milestone in WMS’s mission to extend next-generation connectivity from the skies.
WMS, a joint venture between World Mobile Group and Indonesia’s leading digital infrastructure company Protelindo, is developing a stratospheric connectivity platform designed to provide affordable and resilient communications worldwide. The demonstration with Britten-Norman will validate how high-altitude, aircraft-based systems can extend mobile coverage to remote areas and rapidly restore communications following natural or man-made disasters.
As part of the project, WMS has acquired a Britten-Norman Islander that will be equipped with an advanced phased-array antenna system. The aircraft will test how stratospheric connectivity can support real-time 5G services over a 15-kilometre radius, building on more than a decade of pioneering work by the former Stratospheric Platforms Ltd, now wholly subsumed into WMS.
Demonstrating the Future of High-Altitude 5G
One of the most promising applications of the technology is emergency response. Operating from short or austere runways, a WMS-equipped Islander could quickly re-establish mobile networks in disaster-hit areas, providing essential communication links for emergency services and affected communities.
Flight testing is scheduled to begin in mid-2026, with operations led by WMS with Britten-Norman’s flight test organisation, conducting system testing in cooperation with BT at their Adastral Park R&D facility near Ipswich.
“This collaboration with Britten-Norman brings together world-class British aircraft engineering and World Mobile’s next-generation telecoms innovation. Our goal is to demonstrate how stratospheric communications can bring reliable 5G connectivity to places that need it most.” said Richard Deakin, CEO of WMS. “World Mobile Stratospheric will ultimately realise the use of DePIN networks using a sharing economy model from the stratosphere. This first major step provides a crucial milestone along that journey.”
“We’re proud to work alongside World Mobile Stratospheric to advance airborne connectivity technology,” said Mark Shipp, Technical Director and Head of Design at Britten-Norman. “The Islander serves as a proven, certified platform for innovative applications, with our experienced teams ensuring seamless integration of novel technologies while maintaining the highest safety standards.”
The BN2T-4S Islander’s endurance, payload capacity, and modular design make it ideally suited to specialist missions such as this, continuing its legacy as one of the most versatile utility aircraft in operation.
This demonstration represents a significant milestone in WMS’s long-term roadmap toward full-scale stratospheric flight, with the potential to connect millions of people currently beyond the reach of conventional networks.
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About World Mobile Stratospheric:
World Mobile Stratospheric (WMS) is a joint venture between Protelindo, Indonesia’s largest independent digital infrastructure provider, and World Mobile Group, a global telecom innovator using blockchain and DePIN technology to democratize connectivity. WMS is developing a hydrogen-powered, fixed-wing aircraft platform designed to deliver high-altitude mobile coverage at up to 20,000 meters. The system will use WMS’s advanced radio technology to support as many as 500,000 simultaneous direct-to-handset connections.
For more information, visit www.wmstratospheric.io.
V2 FOR TECHNICAL AEROSPACE PRESS
World Mobile Stratospheric (WMS) is a joint venture between Protelindo, Indonesia’s largest independent digital infrastructure company, and World Mobile Group, a pioneer in blockchain-enabled telecom networks. WMS is developing a hydrogen-powered, fixed-wing aircraft capable of operating at altitudes of up to 20,000 meters. Equipped with WMS’s advanced phased-array radio technology, the platform aims to provide wide-area 5G coverage and support up to 500,000 direct-to-handset connections from a single high-altitude flight.
Learn more at www.wmstratospheric.io.
About Britten-Norman:
Britten-Norman is a UK-based aircraft manufacturer and a global leader in sub-regional aviation, best known for the Islander, a rugged twin-engine Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) aircraft. The company has produced around 1,300 aircraft, with 97% exported to commercial, government, and military operators worldwide. Operating as an SME on the UK south coast, Britten-Norman provides in-house design, manufacturing, and through-life support, while supporting a global operator network in over 120 countries. With a strong track record in utility, special mission, and regional transport applications, Britten-Norman delivers proven aircraft backed by robust support infrastructure. For more information about Britten-Norman, visit www.britten-norman.com.
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