Generation and use of similar multiple beams

An apparatus for providing a communication network, for communication between (a) multiple moving platforms, each platform having an aerial antenna mounted thereon, such that one or more aerial antennas have variable positions and orientations over time, and (b) at least one user antenna mounted on user equipment having a lower altitude than the aerial antennas, the network being adapted to generate a first beamforming operation which beamforming operation involves:

• determining the positions of the aerial antennas to within 1/10th of a wavelength of signals between the aerial antennas and the user antenna;
• transmitting data relating to the positions and orientations of the aerial antennas to a processing system, the processing system being further adapted to generate and transmit beamforming instructions to the aerial antennas, the aerial antennas being adapted to generate or receive respective component signals for each user antenna, the component signals for each user antenna having essentially the same information content but differing in their phase and amplitude, so as to form a cooperative beam between the cooperative sum of the signals between the aerial antennas and the user antenna;
• and
• the network being adapted to carry out a plurality of further beamforming operations, wherein the further cooperative beams have essentially the same information content as that generated in the first beamforming operation, whereby the further cooperative beams are directed to form a cluster of beams surrounding the first cooperative beam.