The Ministry of Digital Affairs held a pilot run for a high-altitude tethered ballon communications platform at Taitung County's Luye Highlands in southeastern Taiwan, demonstrating the device’s capacity to restore communications in emergencies.
MODA Minister Huang Yen-nun, governmental officials and academic and industrial sector representatives attended the test. The balloon can attain an elevation of 800 meters and offers network coverage of up to 380 square kilometers. Powered by hydrogen fuel cells, it can stay airborne for over two weeks, providing stable communications.
In his remarks, Huang emphasized that this technology would greatly enhance contingency response for natural disasters and major incidents, as it allows rapid communications recovery and can thus facilitate post-disaster relief delivery. The platform can also be used to improve network coverage in remote areas, bridging the digital divide.
According to the MODA, the project is a collaboration between ministries, research institutions and the private sector, demonstrating the efficacy of public, private and academic collaboration. The minister committed to allocate further resources to the platform to ensure its use in contingencies.
Simulation of disruption and restoration of communications, drone use and temporary signals provided by the balloon platform were demonstrated at the event, the ministry added. (POC-E)
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