Quantcast

UK-based team completes successful 5G infrastructure flight trials

Spirit Airlines to add Detroit nonstop flight out of Bradley International Airport
Major airline to launch new direct flights from Scotland to North America
Qantas’ free international Wi-Fi to switch on from next week
The real reason Southwest is charging for bags now
Air France-KLM in ongoing talks with Air Europa on potential stake, CEO says
Frontier Savagely Shades Southwest After They Eliminated Longstanding Free Bag Policy, Sparking Backlash
Frontier Wants You to 'Divorce Your Old Airline' After Southwest Changes
Delta named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies for sustainability initiatives
Passengers escape fiery American Airlines jet in Denver
Delta, American Dive On Slashed Outlooks; But Two Airlines Rally
Competitors are circling Southwest after the airline announced it's going to start charging for checked bags
Exclusive: Dominican Low-Cost Carrier Arajet Wants to Disrupt NYC Market
Boeing deliveries rise 63% in February from a year earlier
Transportation Secretary Duffy Lays Out 10 Ways the FAA Is Working to Upgrade Air Traffic Control and Make Flying Safer
EasyJet pilot Paul Elsworth suspended after flying too close to mountain
Delta Air Lines bets on ‘blended-wing’ flight to reduce emissions
Europe's airlines pivot to bite size M&A deals to limit cost, regulatory burden
Dave Emerson named new CEO of Virgin Australia, replacing Jayne Hrdlicka
Ryanair DELAYS controversial new boarding pass rule to avoid summer chaos
FAA Orders Inspection, Replacement of 737NG Engine Parts
Spirit Adds New Airport, Three Routes
Delta crash passengers should take the $30,000 payment, their lawyers say. Here’s why.
Budget airline launches new cheap flights to one of the UK’s top winter sun destinations
Brazilian airline Azul to go 'back to basics' after challenging 2024
Airlines cancel flights as air travel to ‘grind to complete halt’ this week ahead of major strike action in Europe
Dramatic moment American Airlines plane diverted to Rome is escorted by fighter jets after mid-air bomb threat
Jetstar Faces Major Backlash as Nationwide System Outage Causes Travel Chaos, Stranding Passengers and Disrupting Flights Across the Australian Airline Industry
Sudden oil supply outages creating turbulence for airline industry
Southwest's layoffs dent its worker-first culture
Abu Dhabi's long-haul carrier Etihad Airways sees record $476 million profit in 2024
UK-based team completes successful 5G infrastructure flight trials
Policy
Webp 898vmm0ovyiogs3i4ise06qknsub
Aviation International News | Aviation International News

An advanced airborne 5G connectivity system has been successfully integrated into a Britten-Norman Islander aircraft following a series of demonstration flights. A group of British companies, led by Stratospheric Platforms Ltd. (SPL), a non-terrestrial networks telecoms developer, is developing the technology, with UK OEM Britten-Norman overseeing the design, integration, and demonstration flights.

SPL aims to develop airborne antennas to deliver widescale high-performance 5G coverage. The technology has various uses, such as quickly restoring networks after major disasters like earthquakes or tsunamis, where traditional mobile network infrastructure has been disrupted.

Key aspects of the flight test program included assessment of aircraft performance and handling qualities, covering both normal and emergency operations. According to Britten-Norman, the flight test program will support the system's full certification and enable integration in terrestrial communications systems with connection speeds reaching 200 Mbps over 15,000 square kilometers.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

The turboprop BN2T-4S Islander variant was chosen for its robust design, all-weather capability, exceptional endurance, and payload capacity. For the next phase of the project, the team will demonstrate the technology by connecting it to a private UK-based national 5G telecommunications network.

“Stratospheric Platforms is dedicated to creating pioneering innovative solutions that transform the connectivity landscape," said SPL CEO Richard Deakin. "Our commitment to delivering high-altitude, zero-carbon, long-endurance communication platforms will revolutionize how the world stays connected, especially in remote and underserved regions."

“This project demonstrates the full capabilities of both Britten-Norman as an accomplished trials organization and the turboprop Islander as a highly capable trials aircraft. Working closely with our partners, the project includes deliverables from our design, manufacture, MRO, flight test and flight operations teams," added Garnet Ridgway, head of flight dynamics at Britten-Norman.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Star Alliance has been named the World's Best Airline Alliance at the 2025 Skytrax Awards.

Jul 12, 2025

SAS and Air France have applied for a codeshare network covering ten U.S. destinations, including New York's JFK and Los Angeles' LAX.

Jul 12, 2025

Aviation analytics firm Cirium has released its June 2025 On-Time Performance (OTP) report, which analyzes global punctuality trends among airlines and airports.

Jul 12, 2025

United Airlines is set to resume flights to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport on July 21, 2025.

Jul 12, 2025

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport experienced significant growth in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic passenger numbers.

Jul 12, 2025

Emirates' fleet currently includes 253 widebody aircraft, with the addition of eight Airbus A350-900s.

Jul 12, 2025