DPD
Stratospheric
Project
A stratospheric telecommunications platform delivering 5G connectivity to Indonesia's 17,000+ islands — without a single new tower.
The Challenge
17,000+ Islands, One Nation — Millions Still Unconnected
Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago nation with 17,000+ islands and 280 million people. Despite being Southeast Asia's largest economy, over 40% of rural communities lack reliable broadband. Traditional ground-based towers are prohibitively expensive in remote islands, mountains, and maritime zones — and are highly vulnerable to natural disasters.
The Solution
One DPD Replaces 15–20 Ground Towers
The DPD aligns with the globally recognised High-Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) concept. Operating at 20–25 km in the stratosphere, a single drone delivers scalable 5G connectivity to standard smartphones — no specialist receiver required.
The Platform
20m Solar Wing with 7-Panel Massive MIMO Payload
The DPD platform is engineered for ultra-long endurance stratospheric flight. Its ~20m wingspan is fully covered with high-efficiency solar cells. The communication payload consists of a 7-panel hexagonal Massive MIMO array, enabling advanced beamforming to simultaneously direct dozens of independent data beams to different ground locations.
How It Works
Seamless Three-Link Architecture
DPD Design Renders
Helium lift · Solar powered · Turbine-directed — Click any image to enlarge
Who Benefits
DPD Serves Every Indonesian — From Farmers to Pilots
Rural Villages
First-ever broadband access for communities across 17,000+ islands.
Urban Hotspots
Supplementary capacity for dense urban areas like Jakarta during peak demand.
In-Flight Connectivity
Seamless in-flight internet without high-latency satellite links.
Maritime Operations
Continuous connectivity for fishing fleets, cargo ships, and ferries.
Disaster Response
Aerial base station remains operational when ground infrastructure fails.
IoT & Agriculture
24/7 sensor connectivity for precision farming across vast territories.
A Fleet Creates a National Digital Canopy
30–50 DPD units, connected by inter-platform laser links, can provide continuous broadband coverage to every corner of Indonesia's 5 million km² territory — deployable in months, not decades.
Competitive Advantage
Lower Latency, Lower Cost, No Specialist Hardware
Market Validation
World Mobile and Stratospheric Platforms Ltd are actively testing helium-lift HAPS platforms with Protelindo — Indonesia's largest telecom infrastructure company — validating 200 Mbps 5G at commercial scale in tropical conditions.
| Parameter | DPD / HAPS | Starlink (LEO) |
|---|---|---|
| Altitude | 20–25 km (Stratosphere) | ~550 km (LEO) |
| Latency | ~6 ms (Real-time) | 20–40 ms |
| Cost Efficiency | ~18× cheaper per GB | High launch & maintenance cost |
| User Device | Standard Smartphone | Specialist Satellite Dish |
| Deployment | National Sovereign Airspace | Rocket Launch / Orbital |
Technology Roadmap
Stratospheric Payloads Are Upgradeable
Unlike buried fibre or fixed towers, the stratospheric payload can be physically swapped or remotely reconfigured as wireless standards evolve over the next 15 years.
Engineering Challenges
Three Solvable Challenges Stand Between DPD and Deployment
| Challenge | Current Status | Mitigation Path |
|---|---|---|
| Endurance | ~9 days | Helium lift system + solar optimisation |
| Wind Stability | 9 m/s + gusts | Active station-keeping algorithms |
| Tropical Propagation | Humidity / Dust | 38 GHz propagation modelling for Indonesia |
| Regulatory | Coordination needed | Kominfo dialogue via Protelindo |
DPD Stratospheric Project
Full project introduction video — watch online or download to your device
DPD Stratospheric Project — Full Introduction Video
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Short Video Series
10-episode series introducing the DPD Stratospheric Platform — English female narration
DPD Stratospheric Project — Complete Video Series (English)
Download SeriesDPD Application Scenarios
Three-episode showcase: Aviation · Maritime & Offshore · Universal Connectivity
DPD Series 2 — Application Scenarios (EP1/3 · EP2/3 · EP3/3)
Download Series 2Download Resources
Get the Full Presentation
Download the DPD Stratospheric Project presentation deck in PDF format.
DPD Stratospheric Project
Switch to 中文 in the top navigation to access the Chinese PDF version.
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Contact Us
Interested in partnering with us or have questions about the DPD project? We'd love to hear from you.