Broadband Communications from Aerial Platform Networks

Provision of broadband services is raising increasing challenges, particularly in operating environments requiring wireless access. In this context an emerging solution based on aerial platforms is attracting increasing amounts of research effort. This concept combines some of the best characteristics of terrestrial and satellite communication systems, and it provides alternative and complementary means of communications, particularly well suited for serving remote regions with low user density, short-term large-scale events and establishment of ad-hoc networks for disaster relief. This paper discusses some basic characteristics of communication systems based on aerial platforms, it outlines alternative network architecture scenarios for provision of wireless access to broadband communication services, and it provides a short overview of the IST project CAPANINA, which is developing broadband communication networks based on the use of aerial platforms.