Kigali—In a recent advance, Rwanda and SoftBank Corp. have jointly announced the world's first successful test of a 5G communications payload in the stratosphere, conducted using a solar-powered high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
According to a new release, the SoftBank's stratospheric communications payload provided uninterrupted 5G connectivity for about 73 minutes at a maximum altitude of 16.9 km. Paula Ingabire, Minister of ICT and Innovation of Rwanda, stated that the test is a significant step toward reducing the digital divide and encouraging digital inclusion through innovative solutions.