SoftBank and HAPSMobile-led proposal for expanded use of HAPS spectrum bands approved as Asia-Pacific common proposal to WRC-19

SoftBank Corp. (“SoftBank”) and its subsidiary HAPSMobile Inc. (“HAPSMobile”) are conducting international standardization activities related to High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) spectrum at the International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) and Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT). Both companies today announced that the proposal to APT for HAPS spectrum bands, which was drafted by SoftBank and HAPSMobile to represent Japan, was approved as an Asia-Pacific region common proposal (APT Common Proposal) for deliberation at ITU-R's World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (WRC-19). At WRC-19, which takes place from October 28 to November 22 in Egypt this year, regional common proposals, including the APT Common Proposal, will be discussed to decide on whether they will be adopted as agenda items for World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23).

When HAPS is operated as mobile base stations, the 2GHz mobile spectrum band can be used, but the usage of other global mobile spectrum bands such as 700-900MHz, 1.7GHz, and 2.5GHz is currently prohibited under international regulations. The approved APT Common Proposal led by SoftBank and HAPSMobile proposes that HAPS spectrum bands be expanded to global mobile spectrum bands outside 2GHz to allow operators flexibility when implementing mobile broadband communication systems that use HAPS.

Similar regional common proposals relating to expanded spectrum bands for HAPS mobile base stations have been agreed by the Americas and Africa regions at the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) and the African Telecommunications Union (ATU), respectively.

To help realize a world where all people and things are connected by utilizing HAPS technology, SoftBank Corp. and HAPSMobile will continue to conduct international standardization activities for HAPS spectrum bands while coordinating with the relevant authorities in various countries.

About HAPSMobile

HAPSMobile Inc. is a subsidiary of SoftBank Corp. that plans and operates a High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) business with the aim of bridging the world's digital divide. HAPSMobile is primarily engaged in network equipment research and development for the HAPS business, construction of core networks, new business planning and activities for spectrum usage. AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV) is HAPSMobile's minority owner and aircraft development partner for “HAWK30,” a solar-powered unmanned aircraft designed for stratospheric telecommunications platform systems that flies approximately 20kms above ground in the stratosphere. HAPSMobile has a strategic relationship with Loon, a subsidiary of Alphabet, the parent company of Google. For more information, please visit https://www.hapsmobile.com.