UAVs or unmanned aircraft which remain relatively stationary at high altitude. They could be used as communications platforms, for weather surveys, traffic reports etc. Because of their relative short distance from earth compared to satellites[?] (20km compared to up to 40.000km) they could even be used to provide mobile telecomunication, without the need for ground based antennae, and without the long delays associated with satellite communication.
wikipedia.org dumped 2003-03-17 with terodump