Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication and SDEC visit US-Spanish aerospace hub
KUCHING: The Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication together with Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) visited Skydweller Aero Inc in Madrid, Spain last Friday for a work visit.
Led by minister Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi, the main objective of the visit was to gain a deeper understanding of the technology and capabilities of the High Altitude Platform System (HAPS) in facilitating extensive telecommunications coverage.
In sharing the visit to the stateof-the-art US-Spanish aerospace company on his Facebook page, Julaihi said it was initiated to expand cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as to explore Sarawak’s potential as the hub for Asia-Pacific operations.
“Skydweller is a multinational aerospace startup that develops solar-powered aircraft capable of continuous flight,” he said, adding that it is currently working on a solar-powered aircraft solution designed for perpetual flight with a robust payload capacity.
“Equipped with a flexible payload system, including satellite communication, imaging radar, and 4G/5G cellular, among others, the unmanned aircraft aims to provide the endurance of geosynchronous satellites, coupled with powerful sensing capabilities and the versatility of a large, airborne platform.
“This will enable customers to persistently operate in challenging areas for extended durations while minimising environmental impact.
“We intend to assess the suitability of this technology for use in Sarawak and are seeking more detailed proposals from Skydweller and their Japanese telecommunications company partner SoftBank, which had also provided us some insights during the briefing,” he said.