Up, up and away!

Replacing mobile phone masts with balloons

In North Dakota, former Governor Ed Schafer is backing a plan to loft wireless network repeaters on balloons high above the state to fill gaps in cellular coverage.

"I know it sounds crazy," said Schafer, who now heads Extend America Inc., a wireless telecommunications company "But it works in the lab."

An Arizona-based Space Data Corp. are developing the technology, which is believed to be the first to use disposable balloons to provide cellular coverage.

A trial balloon will be launched in the next few weeks to test the idea, said Schafer, who left office in 2000 after eight years as governor.

"To cover every square mile of North Dakota, it would take 1,100 cell towers," Schafer said. "We can do the whole state with three balloons."

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