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HAPSMobile Inc.
HAPSMobile Inc. is a Tokyo-based SoftBank subsidiary developing stratospheric telecommunications via solar-powered aircraft. Founded undisclosed.
HAPSMobile Inc.
HAPSMobile Inc. was established as a subsidiary of SoftBank Group to develop and operate high-altitude platform stations (HAPS) — solar-powered aircraft that function as flying base stations in the stratosphere. The firm's founding year is not publicly disclosed. The company's core strategy involves building unmanned aircraft (the HAWK30, co-developed with AeroVironment) to provide wireless connectivity from an altitude of roughly 20 km. The aircraft uses solar cells and batteries to maintain station for months at a time. HAPSMobile targets telecommunications operators and governments as customers for backhaul or direct-to-device coverage. The firm has tested flights in partnership with NASA and other agencies. HAPSMobile is headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan, and operates as a project-focused entity within SoftBank's broader portfolio. No public disclosures detail team size, AUM, or additional offices. The most recent known operational event was a test flight of the HAWK30 in June 2022 at the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center (per SoftBank Group press release, June 2022). HAPSMobile's structural differentiator is its focus on a single technology platform — stratospheric HAPS — for telecommunications, a niche that positions it between satellite and terrestrial networks. The firm's existence is tied to SoftBank's longer-term infrastructure bets rather than typical family office or venture capital deployment.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Asia
Country
Japan
City
Minato
Corporate office
Minato, Tokyo, Japan
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What does HAPSMobile actually build?
HAPSMobile develops high-altitude platform stations (HAPS) — solar-powered, unmanned aircraft that operate in the stratosphere at roughly 20 km altitude. These aircraft are designed to provide cellular connectivity, either as backhaul links or direct-to-device coverage, for periods of months without landing.
How is HAPSMobile related to SoftBank Group?
HAPSMobile is a subsidiary of SoftBank Group, the Japanese holding company led by Masayoshi Son. SoftBank originally created the entity to pursue stratospheric communications as a complement to its terrestrial and satellite investments.
Who are HAPSMobile's main partners?
HAPSMobile developed the HAWK30 aircraft in partnership with AeroVironment, the US-based unmanned aircraft systems firm. They have also worked with NASA for test flights and with Facebook in an earlier related initiative (Project Aquila) before Facebook exited the HAPS space.
Has HAPSMobile received regulatory approval to operate?
HAPSMobile has conducted test flights with NASA's approval and has been working with Japanese regulators. As of public record, it has not yet obtained full commercial operational clearance for its stratospheric aircraft.
What sectors does HAPSMobile target?
The company targets telecommunications operators, governments, and disaster-response agencies that need persistent aerial connectivity. Its technology could address coverage gaps in remote or underdeveloped regions.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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