How HAPS Advance the UN SDGs in Developing Nations

# How HAPS Advance the UN SDGs in Developing Nations

High-altitude platform systems (HAPS) are increasingly relevant to the global development agenda. Operating in the stratosphere, typically around 18 to 25 kilometres above Earth, these solar-powered platforms can deliver wide-area connectivity, Earth observation, and resilient communications at lower cost and with faster deployment than many terrestrial alternatives. For developing nations across Africa and Asia, that makes HAPS a practical tool for accelerating progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The development case is compelling. Around 2.6 billion people worldwide still lacked internet access in 2023, according to the International Telecommunication Union, with the majority located in low- and middle-income countries. At the same time, the World Bank has estimated that climate change could push up to 132 million people into poverty by 2030 without stronger adaptation measures. Infrastructure gaps, exposure to natural disasters, and limited public-service reach continue to constrain economic growth. HAPS can help address these challenges by bridging coverage gaps and enhancing situational awareness where ground infrastructure is sparse, costly, or vulnerable.

Supporting SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

SDG 9 calls for resilient infrastructure and inclusive industrialisation. In many developing markets, rural connectivity remains uneconomic for conventional towers or fibre alone. Mountainous terrain, dispersed populations, islands, forests, and conflict-affected regions can all drive up deployment costs and delay network roll-outs.

HAPS offer a complementary layer between satellites and terrestrial mobile networks. A single platform can cover thousands of square kilometres, providing backhaul or direct connectivity over large areas. Because HAPS operate much closer to Earth than geostationary satellites, they can also support lower-latency services, an important advantage for education platforms, e-health applications, logistics, and enterprise use.

This matters economically. Mobile broadband is strongly linked to GDP growth, financial inclusion, and job creation. GSMA has repeatedly highlighted that closing the mobile internet usage gap in low- and middle-income countries would unlock major productivity gains. By extending coverage to underserved areas faster than building dense terrestrial networks alone, HAPS can help countries modernise infrastructure while reducing digital inequality.

Advancing SDG 4 and SDG 3: Quality Education and Good Health

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed how deeply unequal digital access remains. When schools and clinics rely on connectivity, underserved communities are often the first to be excluded. HAPS can support SDG 4 by enabling broadband access for remote schools, vocational centres, and community learning hubs. In regions where fibre is absent and tower infrastructure is limited, a stratospheric platform can help connect classrooms to cloud learning tools, teacher training, and digital curricula.

The same principle applies to SDG 3. Telemedicine, remote diagnostics, connected health records, and communications links for rural clinics all depend on reliable coverage. This is especially valuable in countries where healthcare workers serve wide geographies with limited transport infrastructure. HAPS can also provide temporary communications capacity during disease outbreaks or humanitarian emergencies, helping governments and NGOs coordinate responses more effectively.

In practical terms, this means better continuity of care, faster specialist consultations, and improved links between national health systems and frontline providers. In markets where hospital infrastructure is concentrated in major cities, this can materially improve access to essential services.

Enabling SDG 13 and SDG 11: Climate Action and Resilient Communities

Developing nations are often on the frontline of climate risk despite contributing least to cumulative emissions. Floods, droughts, cyclones, and wildfires are increasing the need for better monitoring and faster emergency response. HAPS can support SDG 13 and SDG 11 by providing persistent observation and resilient communications before, during, and after disasters.

Unlike conventional aircraft, HAPS can remain aloft for extended periods, making them well suited to wide-area monitoring of floodplains, coastlines, agricultural zones, and wildfire-prone regions. They can carry sensors for imaging, atmospheric monitoring, and communications relay, creating a high-persistence layer for disaster risk reduction and early warning systems.

For emergency management agencies, this can improve situational awareness when terrestrial networks fail. For local communities, it can mean faster alerts, more accurate damage assessments, and improved coordination of relief operations. The value proposition is particularly strong in countries where extreme weather regularly disrupts roads, power, and mobile infrastructure.

Strengthening SDG 2 and SDG 8: Food Security and Economic Opportunity

Agriculture remains central to many African and Asian economies, yet smallholder farmers often lack access to timely data, markets, and financial services. HAPS can contribute to SDG 2 by supporting precision agriculture, crop monitoring, and rural connectivity for farming communities. Better coverage enables access to weather updates, agronomic advice, digital payments, and market pricing information.

This in turn supports SDG 8 by expanding participation in the digital economy. When remote communities gain reliable connectivity, they can access e-commerce, mobile banking, online training, and digital public services. Small businesses can operate more efficiently, while governments can improve service delivery across wider territories.

McKinsey and other analysts have shown that digital inclusion can generate substantial economic returns in emerging markets. HAPS are not a standalone solution, but they can be a powerful accelerator when integrated with mobile operators, public-sector agencies, and development programmes.

A Practical Development Platform for Emerging Markets

HAPS should be viewed as part of a layered architecture. Fibre remains essential for core networks, towers will continue to serve population centres, and satellites play a critical role in global coverage. But for countries seeking rapid, flexible, and scalable deployment, HAPS fill an important gap. They can be deployed more quickly than major terrestrial builds, re-tasked to priority zones, and used for both commercial and public-interest missions.

That flexibility aligns well with the realities of developing nations, where governments must balance universal service targets, climate resilience, fiscal constraints, and national development priorities. As regulatory frameworks mature and platform endurance improves, HAPS are likely to become an increasingly important tool in achieving multiple SDGs at once.

For policymakers, investors, and development partners, the strategic question is no longer whether stratospheric platforms have relevance, but how quickly they can be integrated into national digital and resilience strategies. INNO HAPS is helping shape that future by developing stratospheric solutions tailored to the real infrastructure needs of emerging markets in Africa and Asia. Contact INNO HAPS to explore how HAPS can support your connectivity, climate, and development goals.