Sceye unveils first-of-its-kind stratospheric telecom antenna, SceyeCELL, to bridge the gap between ground towers and satellites

Sceye, a U.S. aerospace and materials science company specializing in High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS) for telecommunications and real-time environmental monitoring, today unveiled a first-of-its-kind custom-built antenna, SceyeCELL, designed to bring high-speed connectivity at scale from the stratosphere. Described as a “cell tower in the sky,” SceyeCELL merges the precision of satellite systems with the flexibility of cellular networks, enabling an entirely new category of telecom infrastructure built for wide-area coverage and long-duration operations.

“Sceye’s vision has always been to open the stratosphere as a new infrastructure layer to connect people and protect our planet – and SceyeCELL is fundamental technology that brings this vision to reality,” said Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen, Founder and CEO of Sceye. “Our antenna transforms our HAPS platform into working infrastructure in the stratosphere. SceyeCELL provides a stable, persistent layer of coverage that protects and expands networks during crises and provides new access where it has historically been too expensive or complicated to reach with conventional technology.”

SceyeCELL set to fly this Summer on the company’s first commercial test flight in partnership with SoftBank Corp. On this flight, Sceye’s HAPS will transit from New Mexico to Japan, where Sceye will backhaul into SoftBank Corp.’s core network, running several demonstrations for expanded connectivity during emergency and disaster response scenarios.

What Makes SceyeCELL Different

Operating in the stratosphere, Sceye’s solar-and-battery-powered HAPS are designed to remain over a region for weeks to months at a time. Unlike traditional telecom systems built for the ground or for orbit, SceyeCELL was engineered specifically for long-duration operations above 60,000 feet — integrating advanced beamforming, motion compensation, and full cellular functionality into a single airborne platform.

Key capabilities include:

- An entire cellular network in one airborne system: All core cellular equipment exists in an integrated, lightweight architecture that is optimized for weight, power, and thermal management in the stratosphere.

- Targeted, flexible coverage over huge areas: SceyeCELL performs real-time 2-D beam formation and implements real-time motion compensation, dynamically steering signals and enabling accurate coverage far beyond what ground towers can provide.

- Built for endurance in near-space conditions Every component is engineered for long-duration operation in extreme temperatures (down to −70°C) and harsh atmospheric conditions, including low pressure, high radiation, and severe thermal gradients.

Built for the Next Generation of Networks

As the world moves toward 6G and the vision of a ubiquitous network — one capable of supporting autonomous vehicles, robotics, IoT systems, and always-on connectivity — traditional infrastructure is being stretched beyond its limits. SceyeCELL works alongside existing ground networks and satellites, creating a persistent airborne layer that helps make the promise of 6G connectivity commercially and technically achievable.

With 20+ successful flights to date and strategic investment from Mawarid Holding Company, America Móvil, and SoftBank Corp., Sceye is accelerating the commercialization of HAPS technology to address connectivity and global climate challenges. Beyond Sceye’s connectivity efforts, the company also completed the world’s first real-time methane detection missions from the stratosphere and has collaborated with NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to deliver real-time, high-resolution Earth observation data, supporting early detection of wildfires, methane leaks, volcanic plume activity, and other critical environmental events.