European aerospace giant Airbus has successfully initiated operations of its high-altitude communication drone, the Zephyr High Altitude Platform Station (Zephyr HAPS), in Kenya's Laikipia County. Following the establishment of its base—known as an AALTOPORT—in Laikipia last year, Airbus subsidiary AALTO conducted a 13-day test flight, during which the solar-powered Zephyr HAPS maintained an average altitude of 60,000 feet. The test evaluated a payload designed to provide direct-to-device (D2D) 4G/5G connectivity, compatible with standard smartphones, enabling video and data services.

The Zephyr HAPS operates in the stratosphere, between 10 to 50 kilometers above Earth, and can remain airborne for over 30 days. Its applications are diverse, including security observation, border surveillance, mobile connectivity, forest fire management, and precision agriculture. Notably, when deployed as a mobile signal mast, the Zephyr HAPS covers an area of 7,500 square kilometers, equivalent to the reach of 250 terrestrial mobile masts. This capability is particularly advantageous for extending network coverage into rural and remote regions where establishing ground-based infrastructure is not economically viable.

Airbus selected Laikipia County for its inaugural earth station due to several favorable factors: the availability of flat, open spaces suitable for the drone's unique corkscrew takeoff and landing maneuvers, minimal air traffic, and a conducive weather window that allows for operations up to 10 months annually. The Kenya Space Agency collaborated closely with AALTO to develop a regulatory framework facilitating the deployment of this innovative technology.

With the successful test flights completed, AALTO plans to conduct a series of experimental tests for clients throughout 2025, marking a significant advancement in high-altitude platform station technology and its practical applications in various sectors.