Defense Speak Interpreted: The Autonomous Plane Battle—Skyborg Vs. Loyal Wingman
American Made Advocacy: Congress Back from Break With Work To Do
Beyond the Board: What Companies Need to Know Before Entering the MilAero PCB Market
Airbus to Deliver Connectivity Services Using Zephyr High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS)
July 18, 2022 | AirbusEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Airbus has launched a connectivity services business through the creation of a dedicated HAPS Services Business based around Zephyr, Airbus’ leading HAPS technology platform. This will help enable it to industrialise rapidly and begin serving a substantial total addressable market, providing low-latency connectivity services from the stratosphere for telecommunications and Earth observation applications. The new business is a subsidiary of Airbus Defence and Space.
Following on from recent successful test flight campaigns the solar-powered Zephyr has established itself as the leading HAPS platform in the world. With the company now set to offer telecommunications services via its platform, it will play a crucial role in helping to bridge the digital divide through connecting the unconnected on land, air and sea.
To help lead its ambitious growth plans, Samer Halawi has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the new business. Most recently Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Intelsat, Samer is a seasoned Telecom executive with more than 30 years’ experience in Telecommunications and Global Satellite Communications, as well as Automotive and Investment Banking. He brings experience and expertise in building and transforming successful companies.
“With thousands of flight hours in the stratosphere and an admirable entrepreneurial spirit, the Zephyr team are well placed to develop future connectivity services. This is an exciting time for the team, building on our success with the leading HAPS, and it is now time for the next step,” said Samer Halawi.
Samer’s leadership team will be boosted by the appointment of Taz Esmail as Chief Financial Officer. Taz joins from her most recent role as CFO at Meta Aerospace; with extensive experience in the aviation, aerospace and defence sectors having worked in both listed and blue-chip private equity environments.
“Our connectivity services will provide a viable alternative and complement to terrestrial and satellite-based connectivity solutions, allowing for the first time low-latency and direct-to-device connectivity across vast geographies, and economically. Our sustainable technology allows us to save and improve people’s lives whilst ensuring a better outcome for our planet”, added Halawi.
With over 3.7 billion people unserved or severely underserved by current terrestrial and space-based telecommunications networks, Airbus and Zephyr are reimagining connectivity, and working towards bridging the digital divide, offering state-of-the-art connectivity service to commercial, defence and institutional customers across the globe.
Share on:
Testimonial
"Advertising in PCB007 Magazine has been a great way to showcase our bare board testers to the right audience. The I-Connect007 team makes the process smooth and professional. We’re proud to be featured in such a trusted publication."
Klaus Koziol - atgSuggested Items
Kodiak Assembly Solutions Renews ITAR Registration, Providing Secure and Compliant Manufacturing for Defense & Aerospace
09/25/2025 | Kodiak Assembly SolutionsKodiak Assembly Solutions LLLP, a leading electronics contract manufacturer, has successfully renewed its ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) registration.
Cyient DLM, A Voice from the Frontlines
09/24/2025 | Arpita Das, Global Electronics AssociationOnce seen as a low-cost, build-to-print destination, India’s EMS sector is rapidly emerging as a global hub for high-reliability electronics, particularly in strategic sectors like aerospace, defense, and medical. As such, we highlight some companies that exemplify the strength and potential of Indian manufacturing.
Nortech Systems Achieves Enhanced Fiber Optic Performance
09/16/2025 | Nortech SystemsNortech Systems Incorporated, a leading provider of design and manufacturing solutions for complex electromedical devices and electromechanical systems, announced significant advancements in its fiber optic capabilities.
Altair, Wichita State University’s NIAR Sign MoU to Accelerate Aerospace Innovation
09/16/2025 | AltairAltair, a global leader in computational intelligence, and Wichita State University’s (WSU) National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), one of the world’s leading aerospace research institutions, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to advance innovation across the aerospace and defense industries.
India’s Aerospace and Defence Engineered for Power, Driven by Electronics
09/16/2025 | Gaurab Majumdar, Global Electronics AssociationWith a defence budget of $82.05 billion (2025–26) and a massive $223 billion earmarked for aerospace and defence spending over the next decade, India is rapidly positioning itself as a major player in the global defence and aerospace market.