Abstract: A communications base station is mounted on an aircraft such as a drone or a tethered balloon to provide wireless coverage over a remote area. The use of an airborne device allows a much wider coverage area to be served by one base station, and therefore one backhaul connection, than would be possible by ground based antennas. Power and maintenance savings are achieved as the aircraft is launched only when activity is detected on the ground in the area of coverage, and returns to a ground station when such activity ceases. Activity may be detected for example by sensors on a highway identifying vehicles approaching the coverage area.

Abstract: A communications base station is mounted on an aircraft such as a drone or a tethered balloon to provide wireless coverage over a remote area. The use of an airborne device allows a much wider coverage area to be served by one base station, and therefore one backhaul connection, than would be possible by ground based antennas. Power and maintenance savings are achieved as the aircraft is launched only when activity is detected on the ground in the area of coverage, and returns to a ground station when such activity ceases. Activity may be detected for example by sensors on a highway identifying vehicles approaching the coverage area.