World Mobile Stratospheric (WMS) has announced a landmark partnership with Britten-Norman, the UK manufacturer behind the iconic Islander aircraft, to demonstrate a next-generation airborne 5G platform.
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The collaboration marks the first major step in WMS’s plan to extend mobile connectivity from the stratosphere, using high-altitude aircraft to reach places conventional networks cannot.
WMS — a joint venture between World Mobile Group and Protelindo, Indonesia’s largest independent digital infrastructure provider — is developing a stratospheric communications system that blends telecom innovation with aerospace engineering.
The goal: affordable, resilient 5G coverage from above, capable of restoring or extending connectivity at massive scale.
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Testing 5G From the Sky
As part of the project, WMS has acquired a BN2T-4S Islander, one of Britten-Norman’s most versatile, short-takeoff utility aircraft. The testbed aircraft will be outfitted with WMS’s advanced phased-array antenna to demonstrate real-time 5G connectivity over a 15-kilometre footprint — building on more than a decade of stratospheric R&D originally developed at Stratospheric Platforms Ltd, now fully integrated into WMS.
One of the most immediate use cases is emergency response. From short or austere runways, an Islander equipped with WMS technology could rapidly re-establish mobile networks in disaster-hit regions, delivering essential communications to first responders and affected communities.
This partnership combines world-class British aircraft engineering with World Mobile’s next-generation telecom innovation. Our goal is to show how stratospheric networks can bring reliable 5G connectivity to the people and places that need it most.
Flight tests are scheduled to begin in mid-2026, led jointly by WMS and Britten-Norman’s flight test organization, with system validation taking place alongside BT at the Adastral Park R&D facility in Ipswich.
A Platform Designed for High-Altitude Telecom Missions
With its rugged design, modular architecture, and decades-long reputation in global utility operations, the Islander is a natural fit for this mission. Britten-Norman — which has produced more than 1,300 aircraft for commercial, government, and military operators in over 120 countries — is integrating WMS’s telecom payload while maintaining the aircraft’s industry-leading STOL and endurance capabilities.
The Islander is an exceptional platform for integrating novel technologies. Our team is proud to support WMS as it advances airborne connectivity systems with the highest safety and engineering standards.
Mark Shipp, Technical Director & Head of Design at Britten-Norman
Toward a Stratospheric 5G Network
The airborne demonstration is a milestone in WMS’s broader roadmap: the development of a hydrogen-powered, fixed-wing aircraft capable of flying at 20,000 meters and delivering wide-area 5G coverage with up to 500,000 direct-to-handset connections.
By fusing telecom infrastructure with DePIN and World Mobile’s sharing-economy model, WMS aims to build stratospheric networks that are both scalable and economically accessible.
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For millions of people currently offline or underserved by traditional networks, the implications are profound: aerial 5G coverage that can be deployed quickly, cheaply, and anywhere on earth.
