It would not be too difficult to use quad copters to provide connectivity across very large areas.
You could tether the vehicles to a simple ground station using a length of small, strong, twisted pair wire.
If you send high voltage AC up the wire there will be minimal loss and you can convert to lower voltage DC to run the quad copter’s motors and electronics.
Data could be sent up/down the twisted pair wire as well.
A height of say 500 or 1000 feet and you would get really good coverage....and communications between vehicles at altitude would be very long-range.
Extreme weather might be a problem from time to time but it’s still an interesting idea.
So, what might be the range for that?
High altitude VOR ranges are, what, in the 200 mile range?
That leaves 2600 miles to cover away from land on a 3000 mile trans-atlantic crossing.
Compare to using satellites, always overhead, any weather.