European aerospace giant Airbus is eyeing Kenya as the base for its first earth station for high-altitude communication drones, opening the potential for up to 1,000 jobs for locals. Airbus subsidiary AALTO, which has developed the solar-powered Zephyr High Altitude Platform Station (Zephyr HAPS), said it plans to put up the operation hub in Laikipia County from early next year, subject to regulatory approvals in Kenya. “We looked at all of these and realised Kenya has all of these qualities. The Zephyr aircraft, which Airbus had been developing over the past 20 years, lands and takes off in a corkscrew motion, and can stay airborne for more than 30 days at a time. When deployed as a mobile signal mast, the Zephyr HAPS has a coverage footprint of 7,500 square kilometres, which is equivalent to 250 terrestrial mobile masts.

Source: Daily Nation December 05, 2023 03:15 UTC