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MatSing and KT Corp Successfully Test New SuperCell HAPS Solution

In September 2025, South Korean mobile provider, KT Corporation, and MatSing conducted a successful field test of a new high-altitude cellular solution. The results have significant implications as the mobile industry confronts the challenges of the global digital divide, disaster recovery and the coming era of 6G communications.  

The field test combined KT’s next-generation non-terrestrial network (NTN) technology and MatSing’s low-frequency Multi-Beam Cylindrical (MBC) base-station lens antenna to create a high-altitude platform station (HAPS) known as SuperCell.

A helium balloon was used to position the base station equipment and antenna about 20 to 50 kilometers over the earth, above commercial aviation but below low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellites. At this altitude, SuperCell acts as a bridge between LEO satellites and mobile users on the ground, providing lower latency, higher capacity and better coverage than a direct-to-satellite connection. Compared to a conventional terrestrial macro network, SuperCell delivered the same level of coverage using 80% fewer base stations.

“Compared to a conventional terrestrial macro network, the SuperCell solution delivered the same level of coverage using 80% fewer base stations.”

The role of advanced lens antenna technology

MS-MBC-2-L2-15 horizontal pattern (800 mHz)

A key to SuperCell’s performance is MatSing’s passive lens technology. It focuses radio waves like a magnifying glass, significantly increasing signal range and efficiently amplifying multidirectional reception signals. This allows for stable coverage over a much wider area than conventional antennas. The specific antenna used, the MS-MBC-2-L2-15, features two isolated 698-960 MHz, cross-polarized beams. Each beam has two ports to support 2X2 multi-in-multi-out (MIMO) functionality. Smart bias tees and AISG 2.0 cable assemblies support a remote electrical tilt (RET) range of 2°-16° for each beam.

The MBC-2-L2-15 is one of 19 multi-beam cylindrical lens antennas in MatSing’s MBC portfolio. The MBC family offers single-band, dual-band and tri-band solutions for frequency ranges from 470 mHz to 3700 mHz. Key applications include macro networks and public safety. All MatSing antennas incorporate advanced lens technology optimized for high-capacity and cost-efficiency.  

Addressing critical applications

The SuperCell’s design and capabilities make it valuable for a range of critical use cases. Unlike a geostationary satellite, the solution is highly mobile, meaning it can be easily repositioned to provide high capacity network coverage wherever it’s needed. This includes connecting areas that have been devastated by natural disasters and have no traditional cell service. SuperCell can also aid in the global fight to bridge the digital divide. The antenna’s well-defined wide coverage patterns expand at higher altitudes, enabling SuperCell to cover large rural areas which are currently underserved or not served.

But perhaps the most intriguing application of SuperCell may be the enablement of 6G, which may be ready for commercial deployment as soon as 2030. 6G will demand peak data rates over 1 Tbps, near-zero latency, ubiquitous connectivity, and extreme reliability. With a focus on native AI/ML and integrated sensing, network capacity will be a critical requirement.

KT is currently working on 6G radio development in separate partnerships with both Samsung and Nokia. When deployed in combination with 6G radios, MatSing’s lens technologies will enable the new 6G radios by focusing extremely high-frequency (THz) signals, providing the high gain and narrow beam patterns needed to support 6G’s requirements for long-range, high-resolution sensing and imaging, and massive data rates.

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A Time-Saver for Antenna Installations – American Tower and MatSing Collaborate on Laser Antenna Alignment Tool

Proper antenna alignment is key to ensuring RF coverage, which is the geographic area  the network serves, and signal strength, as well as minimizing interference between cell sectors. As mobile network operators add new frequency bands, refarm spectrum, or densify cellular networks, misaligned antennas can cause performance degradation in the 5G RAN. An antenna that’s off by just a few degrees can be the root cause of dead zones, dropped calls, and a lower signal-to-noise ratio that reduces throughput, capacity, and accessibility in neighboring sectors. It pays to align the antennas properly, and to do it right the first time.

Aligning Antennas Requires Accuracy, Precision, and Speed

Antenna Alignment Tools (AAT) are used broadly across the wireless industry. Generally, these include a laser, which indicates the boresight of the RF beam, and a camera for visual confirmation and documenting the as-built drawings. Not only are accuracy and precision important, but speed is also. There are many steps in the installation and commissioning process, and antennas are often sited at high, relatively inaccessible locations. Getting the job done quickly matters.

Leveraging American Tower’s extensive technical and deployment experience

Yasir Arafat, MatSing PLM, (left) testing the SLP with (center to right) Jason Rubright, Hayder AlWindi, and John Ott from the American Tower engineering team

American Tower has 30 years of experience designing and deploying wireless infrastructure solutions. Today, American Tower has nearly 450 in-building neutral-host networks, with approximately 100 networks deployed in large public venues, including arenas, stadiums, casinos, and convention centers.

For one deployment in early 2025 – at a stadium – the project utilized  MatSing MS-24H180 lens antennas, which support 24 beams, or sectors. The MatSing Stadium Laser Pointer (SLP) is usually used to align the antennas, but due to site-specific aspects of the installation, the SLP could not be used as is, and required modification.

This is where American Tower’s extensive deployment experience and knowledge came into play. The American Tower team provided critical insights into how to improve the precision of the SLP, as well as to speed up the antenna alignment process. Based on these requirements and insights, MatSing and American Tower innovated and developed a new version of the SLP optimized for the alignment of MS-24H180 lens antennas. The new version features improved tilt and azimuth precision and also reduces the time needed for accurate antenna alignment.

Benefitting from an enhanced SLP

With the SLP, just five target alignment points are needed to properly align all 24 sectors from the MatSing multi-beam lens antenna. The SLP is mounted on the lens antenna during installation, and features five laser pointers for quick, accurate antenna alignment.

Alignment of 24 sectors from a single lens antenna (MS-24H180). The five laser alignment points are indicated in red.

Thanks to American Tower’s extensive technical experience with large-scale deployments and MatSing’s innovative technology, lens antenna deployments are faster and more precise than before. But the real winner here are the fans attending the game or the concert at the stadium, who can share their photos and videos with friends and family over high-performance wireless infrastructure. In today’s hyper-connected world, mobile connectivity is a key ingredient for delivering the ultimate fan experience.

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