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HAPSMobile and Rwanda's Ministry of ICT and Innovation Sign MoU to Study Provision of Mobile Internet Connectivity Using High Altitude Platform StationsToday, the Ministry of ICT and Innovation and HAPSMobile Inc. ("HAPSMobile"), a subsidiary of SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) announced they signed a Memorandum of Understanding ("MoU") on July 29, 2020 under which both parties will conduct a Joint Research Project ("JRP") that studies the use of High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) to provide mobile Internet connectivity in Rwanda. As part of the JRP, the parties plan to conduct demonstration flights using HAPSMobile's solar powered unmanned aircraft system (UAS) in Rwanda to provide 4G/5G Internet connectivity. The results of the JRP will be used to guide discussions between HAPSMobile and MINICT on potential commercial services in Rwanda and other African countries.
Junichi Miyakawa, Representative Director & CTO of SoftBank Corp., and also President & CEO of HAPSMobile, commented:
Paula Ingabire, Minister of ICT and Innovation of the Republic of Rwanda, commented "We enthusiastically welcome HAPSMobile, a SoftBank Corp. subsidiary, to do business in Rwanda. This joint R&D project is well aligned with our government's vision of becoming a Proof of Concept Nation and we commit to supporting it towards fruition. This project will contribute to Rwanda's utmost goal to bridge the digital divide and increase digital inclusion, not only in Rwanda but also across our region."
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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200731005149/en/ |