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Final Newsletter of 2025 - N°84

Telecom 84

📶Telecom: Japan satellite trends 2026: Satellites, NTN and the emergence of HAPS

Satellites & NTN – Japan

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Japan satellite trends 2026: Satellites, NTN and the emergence of HAPS

According to Nikkei XTECH’s overview of Japan’s satellite trends toward 2026, the country’s non-terrestrial network (NTN) landscape is no longer defined solely by orbital systems. While LEO satellite constellations such as Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper continue to expand and enable direct-to-device services, Japan is also advancing non-orbital NTN technologies to complement satellite connectivity and improve coverage continuity.

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Within this broader trend, HAPS (High Altitude Platform Stations) are gaining visibility as a new intermediate connectivity layer positioned between terrestrial networks and satellites. SoftBank is a key driver of this approach, developing two distinct types of HAPS platforms, each with different technical characteristics and use cases.

 

What Is HAPS?

HAPS are communication platforms operating in the stratosphere at around 20 km altitude, well above weather systems and commercial air traffic. In Japan, SoftBank is leading development, positioning HAPS as airborne base stations that extend mobile network coverage from the sky rather than from orbit.

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How does HAPS work

LTA HAPS: Sceye (Lighter-Than-Air Platform)

The first solution is Sceye, a lighter-than-air HAPS that uses helium buoyancy to remain airborne. Structurally closer to an airship than an aircraft, Sceye is designed for high stability and long-duration station-keeping over a specific area.

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Key characteristics include:

  • Near-stationary positioning over a target region

  • Extended endurance, enabled by buoyancy rather than continuous propulsion

  • Solar-powered operation, supporting long-term connectivity services

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This type of HAPS is particularly suited to persistent coverage, such as maintaining continuous connectivity over remote regions or providing stable backup communications.

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LTA HAPS: Sceye 

HTA HAPS: Sunglider (Fixed-Wing Aircraft)

The second solution is Sunglider, a heavier-than-air, fixed-wing HAPS aircraft powered entirely by solar energy. Sunglider relies on aerodynamic lift and electric propulsion to remain airborne, following controlled flight paths in the stratosphere.

 

Key characteristics include:

  • High-altitude, long-endurance flight using solar panels and onboard batteries

  • Wide-area coverage, with the ability to patrol or adjust position as needed

  • Greater mobility, allowing repositioning to different regions

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Compared with LTA platforms, Sunglider emphasizes coverage flexibility and mobility, making it suitable for broader regional coverage or temporary deployments.

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HTA HAPS: Sunglider

HAPS Connectivity and NTN Integration

Both Sceye and Sunglider carry telecommunications payloads that relay signals between user devices and the mobile core network. By aligning with 3GPP NTN standards, SoftBank’s HAPS platforms are designed to integrate with existing 4G and 5G networks, enabling connectivity using standard smartphones without specialized terminals.Operating far closer to Earth than satellites, both HAPS types offer lower latency than LEO satellite systems, while still covering large geographic areas from the sky.

 

Japan’s 2026 NTN TrendsIn Japan

HAPS are discussed alongside satellite services for use cases including remote islands and mountainous regions, maritime and aviation connectivity, and temporary or backup communications during natural disasters.

Within the 2026 satellite and NTN trends highlighted by Nikkei XTECH, HAPS are presented as a complementary airborne layer, extending mobile networks through the air while coexisting with LEO satellite constellations.

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