A "flying" cellular tower was tested in Russia.

      On April 3, 2026, at 11:51 AM, Society In Russia, work has begun on test projects to provide mobile communication in remote and sparsely populated areas using unmanned aerial vehicles. A test launch of a balloon with an installed LTE standard base station has already been carried out in the city of Volsk, Saratov region, MTS reported. The device was secured with cables at an altitude of about 300 meters using a holding device based on a car trailer. The suspended radio module with a wideband antenna provided coverage in the 2100 MHz range within a radius of up to ten kilometers. The data transmission speed reached 30 Mbps. The base station control unit was located on the ground and was connected to the equipment on the balloon via an optical cable. The company clarified that this technology allows for the rapid deployment of mobile communication and the internet in areas where infrastructure is lacking, but access is possible via dirt roads. Following the tests, specialists concluded that such solutions can provide more effective coverage compared to traditional mobile base stations, regardless of the terrain features. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has a Telegram channel. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.