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Comment by jandrese

21 hours ago

One possible payload would be a fast deploy cellular base station that can loiter over disaster areas to provide connectivity. Backhaul would be via satellite like Starlink or if you have multiple aircraft you can route between them to a place with working connectivity. They could also broadcast FM emergency update info.

If you ever dig through Tarana's patents, what you'll come across is more or less what you're describing.

Presumably they could also be rented for big commercial outdoor events, too. On a grander scale, maybe these might make a big network like the old Project Loon more feasible, though presumably the things would have to be able to fly high enough to escape most of the weather (and vandals and conspiracy theorists armed with rifles).