Patent ID: 7313362

Claim:
A method of replacing a radio relay in a telecommunications network comprising a plurality of radio relays, the method comprising the steps of: replacing said radio relay ( 10 ) by an aircraft ( 1 ) of the airplane or glider type which has propulsion means ( 2 ) enabling said aircraft ( 1 ) to maintain itself, to move itself, and to orient itself solely at high altitude; providing said aircraft with transceiver means ( 15 ) for radio waves ( 16 , 17 ); and taking said aircraft ( 1 ) to an altitude and a position such that said transceiver means ( 15 ) lies in the same direction, relative to at least one user ( 11 , 12 ) of said telecommunications network (RT), as said replaced relay ( 10 ), with operation between said transceiver means ( 15 ) and said user ( 11 , 12 ) being performed via an already existing interface without modification thereof, thereby avoiding the need to modify the pointing direction of an antenna of said user.