Introduction
Angel Technologies Corporation and its partners are creating a wireless broadband
"super-metropolitan area" network to interconnect tens to hundreds of thousands
of subscribers at multi-megabit per second data rates. The HALO(TM)
Network will offer ubiquitous access and dedicated point-to-point connections throughout a
"footprint" 50 to 75 miles in diameter. A piloted, FAA-certified High Altitude
Long Operation (HALO) aircraft will provide the "hub" of the network. Operating
continuously over each market, the HALO aircraft will create a "Cone of Commerce(TM)" in which prospective customers will access
broadband services irrespective of their locations. HALO Networks will be financed and
deployed to select markets, on a city-by-city basis, around the world.
Wireless Communications from High Altitude Aircraft
The World Record HALO Proteus aircraft will
operate above 52,000 feet, high above commercial airline traffic and adverse weather.
Viewed as a very tall tower or an "atmospheric satellite," the HALO aircraft
with its large antenna array and network components will serve customers throughout an
area of thousands of square miles. The HALO aircraft has a fixed-wing airframe with twin
turbofan propulsion. It operates in a flight regime pioneered in the 1950's and employs
aircraft components which benefit from decades of experience by the aerospace industry.
The HALO Network
The communications payload of the HALO aircraft is at the apex of a wireless
super-metropolitan area network. It serves as the hub of a "star topology"
network to route data packets between any two users via a single hop through the HALO
payload. The links are wireless, broadband and line-of-sight. Subscribers access service
on demand and will be able to exchange video, high-resolution images, and large data
files. Information addressed to non-subscribers or to recipients beyond the region served
by the HALO Network will be routed through a dedicated HALO Gateway connected to the
public switched networks, or via business premise equipment owned and operated by service
providers connected to the public networks.
Ubiquitous Access through the HALO Network
Prospective customers, irrespective of their location within the service area will be
able to access the HALO Network unobstructed by foliage, buildings, and local terrain.
This attribute, referred to as "ubiquitous access," results from the high
operating altitude of the HALO aircraft.
The HALO Network Compared to Terrestrial Wireless Networks
The HALO Network utilizes a frequency re-use pattern to cover the service area with
hundreds of contiguous virtual cells, each comparable to a terrestrial tower offering
broadband service at millimeter-wave frequencies. The deployment of a terrestrial wireless
network may be sporadic and local since it requires negotiations of roof rights,
compliance with local zoning laws, and construction of many towers. In contrast, the HALO
Network can offer ubiquitous access and a consistent quality of service to prospective
subscribers throughout the entire super-metropolitan region on the first day of service.
In addition, Angel can easily and immediately implement network-wide performance
enhancements through scheduled upgrades of modular components.
The HALO Network Compared to Satellite Systems
The HALO Network can complement satellite systems by transmitting local or regional
content, and by serving as a local concentrator of data traffic. The HALO aircraft is 10
to 1,000 times closer to the user than a satellite, with 10 times the available electrical
power. Consequently, the HALO Network can allocate significant capacity directly to
densely populated regions. Unlike satellite systems, which are "all or nothing"
multi-billion dollar investments, the HALO Network can be financed one market at a time.
In addition, the central node of the HALO Network, the airborne hub, can be routinely
serviced for optimal performance, and be steadily enhanced with emerging technologies
resulting from world-wide competition.
Routine Operations and Maintenance
HALO aircraft will be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for
piloted commercial operation and can operate from regional airports without special
authorization. The aircraft can utilize alternate airports anywhere within a 300 mile
radius of the city if required. Such operational flexibility ensures service availability.
Prior to each flight, the aircraft and their HALO Network components undergo scheduled
maintenance to guarantee high service quality. Each HALO site is serviced by a fleet of
three HALO aircraft which operate in overlapping shifts around-the-clock.
Broadband Services for Businesses
Corporations with local area networks and intranets will use the HALO Network to extend
their LANs outside the corporate firewall to their employee’s homes, regional
offices, field locations, key suppliers and customers.
Corporations also will be able to utilize video conferencing and allow their employees
to telecommute, saving both time and money. Entrepreneurs, consultants, and small
companies will form virtual corporations interconnected within the “Cone of Commerce(TM)." Business users will be offered connection speeds
ranging from 5 to 12.5 Mbps. Initial high capacity users can enjoy links at 25 Mbps and
higher.
Broadband Services for Consumers
The HALO Network will provide consumers with a broadband digital utility for accessing
multimedia services, the Internet, and entertainment services. The network equipment at
the subscriber's premise will be standards-based and employ a user interface as simple as
today’s typical consumer modem. Consumers will be able to access video, data, and the
Internet at rates ranging from 1 to 5 Mbps. Angel will offer higher data rates as the
broadband market matures.
Ease of Installation
Angel has designed the HALOä Network and the consumer premise equipment (CPE) to
ensure ease of installation by the consumer. The CPE, whether delivered or purchased
through a retailer, is designed for rapid installation and ease of use. The antenna is
self-pointing and is mounted on an outside area offering a clear view of the HALO™
aircraft.
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