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Solar Impulse is building an ultralight and extremely energy-efficient solar plane. The aircraft will have a wing-span equal to that of an Airbus A340 (64 metres), the weight of a mid-sized car and will consume as much energy as a small motorcycle. Swisscom is supporting Solar Impulse by providing expertise in the following areas:

1. Development of an ultralight, energy-saving communications solution
Swisscom is developing a special new communications solution for the solar plane, which will fly round the Earth starting in 2014. The solution will be the first of its kind.

Requirements

• The pilot will have permanent contact with the tracking station so that it can transmit data and live images.

• The communications solution must be ultralight (max. 5 kilograms) and use very little electricity (max. 50 watts).

• The external cameras and transmitters must be able to withstand extreme fluctuations in temperature: between +80°C and -40°C.

2. Communication with the people of Switzerland
Communication is Swisscom's daily business, and we are supporting Solar Impulse with our know-how and expertise. Swisscom is developing innovative mobile services which will enable the Swiss people of Switzerland to experience the Solar Impulse adventure close up.