ATG has a plan: airships will replace the terrestrial masts needed to transmit mobile-phone signals around the world. With its ships, ATG believes it has “the potential to revolutionize the way the world’s communications systems are structured.” Potential, yes. But it won’t be easy.
For one thing, the satellites won’t work with most current phones, points out telecommunications consultant Andrew Wright. ATG will have to get backing from the big boys–Nokia, Panasonic, Ericsson–to perform the costly overhaul of all their phones. And ATG has already had trouble confirming financial support from the likes of British Telecommunications and Vodafone.
Wright also rejects ATG’s claims that 19 airships will adequately cover Britain’s needs. But on the plus side, he agrees that ATG will be able to significantly reduce the number of masts needed in Britain’s countryside. So at least land lovers will get their splendid views back. But not in the cities, where traffic is just too dense for just a few airships to have a significant effect. They would need dozens airborne to cover London’s calls alone. At least the airships won’t ruin the skyline–they’ll hover at 60,000 feet, floating well above even the highest flying of jet planes.
ATG has a long way to go before any benefits from its ships are realized. And an even longer way before we see our skies swarming with the Hindenburg lookalikes. For now, we’ll just have to make do with multitudes of masts.
