VAAL Airships builds and operates HAPS – High Altitude Platform Stations, also known as High Altitude Pseudosatellites.
Since HAPS operate at much lower altitudes than satellites and are capable of staying fixed over a certain spot, it is possible to cover a small region much more effectively. Lower altitude also means much better telecommunications link budget and lower latency compared to satellites. Furthermore, deploying a satellite requires significant time and monetary resources, in terms of development and launch. HAPS, on the other hand, are comparatively less expensive and are rapidly deployable. Another major difference is that a satellite, once launched, cannot be landed for maintenance, while HAPS can be maintained and upgraded easily.