TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Digital Affairs is developing balloons and drones to provide alternative internet services in case of a crisis.
In late October, the ministry demonstrated the nation’s first tethered high-altitude communication balloon in Taitung that can provide uninterrupted regional network coverage for up to 380 square km, per Liberty Times. MODA Department of Resource Management Director Niu Hsin-jen (牛信仁) said the ministry plans to develop a High-Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) system with balloons next year.
A key advantage of high-altitude balloons is that they are domestically produced, making them a communication system that Taiwan can independently control. Unlike satellites, which require international negotiations over frequencies and orbital paths, complicated by Taiwan’s geopolitical situation, tethered high-altitude balloons operate exclusively within Taiwan’s airspace.
This autonomy allows for potential mass production without concerns about damage or depletion. Only a few countries, including the US, UK, Japan, and Czech Republic, are developing similar technologies.
Niu said high-altitude balloons and drones are two types of HAPS with advantages and disadvantages. Balloons use helium for lift, carry heavier payloads, remain airborne for extended periods, and have a relatively mature technology.
Drones, on the other hand, have higher maneuverability, smaller sizes, and are not as susceptible to environmental conditions. However, their development involves higher technical barriers.
Niu outlined three goals for advancing Taiwan's HAPS next year. First, the ministry hopes to increase the balloons' altitude beyond the 800-meter limit. The second is to interconnect the signal zones of the balloons to expand communication coverage.
The third goal is to increase the number of domestically produced drones for communications next year. However, because the technology is not yet mature, Niu said there are challenges to overcome.
The project is a collaborative effort across industry, government, academia, and research sectors, involving TH Aero Tech, the three major telecom operators, the Industrial Technology Research Institute, and universities such as National Taiwan University of Science and Technology and National Taipei University of Science and Technology. Niu said that while HAPS systems are still experimental and have yet to attract significant commercial investment, creating a robust certification system could help grow Taiwan’s related industries.
