World Surveillance Group Inc (fka WSGI)

[showmebill]

Leigh Coleman interview: http://www.wirelessiq.info/content/qa/20.html

Leigh Coleman, President
GlobeTel

Readers old enough to recall the ‘60s may remember The Byrds singing "Eight Miles High." Well, inflation has set in, and the currently operative distance is thirteen miles. That's the altitude at which – if GlobeTel Communications Corp.'s plans bear fruit as hoped – a fleet of lighter-than-air craft will soon hover, held in position by GPS, and providing wireless broadband services to much of the United States. For details of the project, click here.


WIQ: Where did the original idea come from? Who dreamed this up, and when, and how?


LC: The idea came from Sanswire Technologies, an Atlanta, Georgia-based Wi-Fi company, which GlobeTel purchased in 2004. GTEL, through its subsidiary Sanswire Networks, which assembled a world class (ex-NASA) design and engineering team, has taken the concept forward and designed and constructed a prototype – "Sanswire One" – in California. A new and improved Sanswire One will make its first high altitude flight in August or September, 2005. A full commercial airship deployment is planned for 2006.



WIQ: What's the business model? How is this project being financed, and how will investors make money?


LC: We work or joint-venture with in-country partners who have access to required capital and markets, and we share revenues with these partners.



WIQ: Who will provide the service? GlobeTel only? Are any other carriers interested and if so, will they be able to use the platform?


LC: No. In-country partners will provide the facilities for many partners who desire to offer wireless communication services, as well as other applications such as surveillance and research.



WIQ: How large an area will one airship serve with wireless broadband?


LC: Currently we plan to cover a footprint with a 200-mile radius (126,000 sq miles).



WIQ: If one "Stratellite" has line-of-sight to an area the size of Texas, why would it take 300 to cover the continental USA?


LC: We operate airships as a fleet, in which they act as a sort of mesh network to provide coverage. There is a limit to the number of subscribers per airship, due to spectrum and frequency issues. Therefore as the bandwidth requirement increases, we add airships. If you were to calculate the number of airships to provide coverage, but not to support large numbers of subscribers, then the initial number of airships could be far less. If we project a national broadband network of many millions of subscribers, the fleet would grow to 300 airships.



WIQ: What kinds of broadband connectivity are you proposing to provide? The literature talks about 802.11x, but my understanding is that even going vertically, your proposed range would be a stretch for 802.11-format transmissions. How much power will you need?


LC: We plan to use our version of 802.16 WiMAX, optimized for long distance. Power requirements are proprietary information.



WIQ: What methods do you propose to use for the other proposed applications: cellular, 3G/4G mobile, MMDS, paging, fixed wireless telephony, HDTV and others?


LC: That depends on the perceived requirements in each market. All forms of wireless communications are possible. We basically have a 13-mile high tower.



WIQ: The "Stratellites" will run on solar power. What technologies are used in the solar array? Is it only the top surface that's covered? How much electrical power will the array produce? Will the Stratellite need to carry big batteries to operate at night?


LC: We use a thin-film photovoltaic array, and yes, it is on top. We have adequate power to charge batteries for operation through a night cycle.



WIQ: The airships will be held in a geostationary position using GPS. Does that pose any challenges?


LC: GPS is relatively easy, according to my experts, given our station-keeping requirements.



WIQ: What issues is the FAA examining before granting a license to fly? We understand they work slowly, to say the least. Do you anticipate approval in time to keep to your schedule?


LC: Yes, regulatory hurdles exist, particularly as no regulations have been written for unmanned airships. If we manned the airship this would solve our FAA issue. There, the issue is safety.



WIQ: What's special about helium the lifting gas technology? How long will it take for a Stratellite to reach cruising altitude?


LC: The lifting gas technology is proprietary. While we need to be conscious of winds aloft as we launch, the rate of ascent is 1000 feet per minute, so doesn't take long to reach the desired altitude. Descent is slower.



WIQ: You intend to bring the each ship down to earth for a refit every 18 months. What will that involve?


LC: Refurbishing and upgrade of the electronics, checking of the airship, and renewal of the batteries as needed.



WIQ: 65,000 feet – the proposed cruising level -- is above the altitude of any current commercial or civil aviation. What about military aircraft, or future commercial aviation that may go higher than present limits? Will the Stratellite need to carry warning strobes?


LC: Yes, it's unlikely we will have many commercial aircraft at 65,000, but in the interests of safety we will have all the normal aviation safety measures.



WIQ: We see that you have set up a European partnership. What plans exist for overseas?


LC: We have prospective partners in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and both North and South America.



WIQ: Do you have a definitive test launch date?


LC: We are planning to launch the first high-altitude flight in August or September, depending of approval by the FAA, and Flight Safety Control at Edwards Air Force Base.