Can Stratospheric Aircraft Solve the Global Connectivity Crisis?
3 billion people still do not have internet access. In many regions, building cell towers is not financially or environmentally sustainable. What if instead of building more towers, telecom companies could float above the problem, literally?
That is the approach being taken by World Mobile and Protelindo, through their joint venture in Combined Space Technologies (CST). With the launch of World Mobile Stratospheric, they aim to replace the telecom tower model with hydrogen-powered aircraft that beam internet directly to smartphones, from 20,000 meters in the sky.
This move has significant implications for mobile network operators, energy grids, underserved communities, and the global satellite race. Here’s how.
From Deutsche Telekom to DePIN, A Brief History of CST
Originally known as Stratospheric Platforms (SPL), CST was founded in Cambridge, UK, and initially backed by Deutsche Telekom with a £70 million investment. After multiple successful demos with BT and Deutsche Telekom, CST was acquired in 2025 by World Mobile and Protelindo. The goal was to take CST’s high-altitude platform system (HAPS), already proven to support 5G calls from the stratosphere and make it commercially viable.
Now rebranded and relaunched, CST sits at the intersection of aerospace engineering, hydrogen propulsion, and blockchain-powered telecom infrastructure, with the mission of delivering carrier-grade, direct-to-device (D2D) mobile service from the sky.
What Makes World Mobile Stratospheric Different?
The platform centers around Stratomast, a fixed-wing, hydrogen-powered aircraft built for endurance and payload.
|
Feature |
Stratomast Aircraft |
|---|---|
|
Altitude |
~60,000 feet (18km) |
|
Endurance |
6–9 days |
|
Coverage per aircraft |
15,000 km² |
|
Download speed |
Up to 200 Mbps |
|
Upload speed |
Up to 100 Mbps |
|
Latency |
~6ms |
|
Max Users |
500,000 concurrent D2D |
|
Propulsion |
Dual fuel hydrogen + SAF |
|
Emissions |
Near-zero CO₂ and NOₓ |
These aircraft are designed for EASA, FAA, and CAA certification, making them operable in civil airspace. The phased-array antenna system onboard supports 450 individually steerable beams, which dynamically map network coverage to rural, urban, and emergency zones.
The system requires no change in user devices. Any standard 4G or 5G phone can connect without needing satellite dishes, modems, or firmware changes.
How Does It Compare to Starlink or AST SpaceMobile?
CST’s aircraft is not alone in targeting sky-based internet. Players like Starlink, Amazon Kuiper, and AST SpaceMobile offer LEO satellite solutions with varying degrees of speed and direct-connectivity.
Here is how CST compares:
CST claims to be 9x cheaper than Starlink per GB, and up to 18x cheaper at full bandwidth. The environmental advantage is also significant — a 95% energy reduction compared to terrestrial towers, with liquid hydrogen exhaust producing only water vapor.
How Blockchain Fits In: The Role of WMTx
While much attention is on the aircraft, the economic engine behind World Mobile Stratospheric is WMTx, the native token of the World Mobile blockchain.
According to World Mobile CEO Micky Watkins:
“This partnership proves how blockchain can unlock new models for global connectivity. At the heart of it is WMTx, the engine that powers our sharing economy. It aligns infrastructure deployment with community participation and makes decentralized telecom not just possible, but scalable.”
By allowing communities or local entrepreneurs to host ground infrastructure (aerial or terrestrial) and earn rewards in WMTx, the network decentralizes both its operation and incentives. In short, infrastructure becomes a community asset.
Protelindo’s Bet on High-Altitude Infrastructure
As Indonesia’s largest independent digital infrastructure firm, Protelindo operates over 28,000 towers. But tower economics break down in low-density or mountainous regions. For Protelindo, World Mobile Stratospheric offers a scalable alternative.
“World Mobile’s out-of-the-box thinking on delivering connectivity to difficult geographies makes them the perfect partner to bring World Mobile Stratospheric’s exciting technology to the market,” a Protelindo spokesperson said. “We believe Indonesia will benefit enormously.”
Use Cases: From Emergency Response to Remote Industry
The potential use cases go beyond rural access:
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Disaster Recovery: Aircraft can be deployed to flood, fire, or war-affected zones, restoring 4G/5G within hours.
-
Remote Mining and Agriculture: Direct-to-device coverage in deserts, mountains, and offshore rigs.
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Tourism and Maritime: Island resorts, cruise ships, and remote trails with no terrestrial footprint.
One aircraft reportedly replaces up to 450 cell towers, at 90% lower cost.
Regulatory Path and Prototype Status
As of mid-2025, the project has:
- Completed hydrogen endurance testing
- Validated phased-array performance with BT
- Conducted 5G service trials in the Red Sea, NEOM, and the UK
- Secured regulatory engagement for EASA CS-23 and FAA Pt 23 compliance
- Deployed early prototypes with coverage reaching 15,000 km² per flight
The next step is full production and certification for civil aviation.
Final Outlook
The telecom industry has been slow to evolve. Tower-based infrastructure is energy-intensive, capex-heavy, and poorly suited for sparsely populated or high-need areas. Satellites bring promise but fall short on latency, cost, and mass device compatibility.
World Mobile and Protelindo, via CST, are offering a third path, one that blends aerospace engineering, green hydrogen, direct-to-phone coverage, and DePIN incentives. If successful, they could reshape telecom economics, especially in the 30% of the world where traditional infrastructure is impractical.
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