The UAV industry has witnessed tremendous growth since its inception. However, among drone communication, among other challenges, is a pressing concern requiring resolutions. Among the various initiatives undertaken by the players operating in the drone industry, cellular-connected drones could be one of the possible solutions for drone communication.
The cellular networks act as enablers for rolling out beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) drone operations at effective operating costs. The drones connected via cellular networks can operate with the existing network infrastructure. The advantages provided by the 5G network, including lower latency and ultra-fast network, are anticipated to open growth avenues for the 5G cellular network and especially for cellular-connected drones.
Recently, the European telecom giants, Vodafone and Ericsson, successfully tested the “safe sky corridors” for drones that are using intelligent aspects of a 5G mobile network. This exercise is expected to push drone delivery of goods and critical services one step closer to commercial reality.
Currently, most of the drones are controlled by a ground control station with a limited range of communication over an unlicensed spectrum. Thus, they are restricted to visual-line-of-sight (VLOS) operations, limiting several commercial and government applications. However, cellular networks are much more reliable and scalable, providing more secure connectivity, as compared to radio frequencies and are; therefore, better suited for BVLOS operations.
In addition, cellular-connected drones can help drone manufacturers and drone service providers to receive real-time updates and warnings in case of potential drone failures. Thereby reducing maintenance costs and preventing accidents at the same time.
Furthermore, mobile networks can also help in secure drone operations, as well as provide accurate location, remote identification, and efficient air traffic control system by harnessing existing encryption and authentication mechanisms of cellular networks. Based on the market intelligence published by BIS Research, the global cellular-connected drone market is projected to reach $1.42 billion by the end of 2030, witnessing a growth of 13.57% during the forecast period from 2020 to 2030.
The growth of the market is driven by long-range BVLOS drone operations cost-effectively, increasing demand for same-day drone delivery, increasing investments in the developments of smart cities, and introduction of 5G technology. Also, several opportunities are likely to open in the near future, including a new opportunity for telecom service providers in software and cloud services and a growing market for IoT solutions and drone data analytics, among others.
To explore more of these opportunities and understand the challenges associated with UAV communications, attend the webinar on ‘Advances in UAV Communications: Present Challenges and Future Opportunities’ on Thursday 17th December 2020 at 10:30 AM PST, hosted by BIS Research. The guest speakers for the webinar are industry veterans such as Mr. Thomas Neubauer, Vice President, TEOCO, and Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Investor, Entrepreneur, Innovator, Strategic Advisor - BIS Research.
The aim of the webinar is to understand the impact of communication technologies on the UAV industry, identify the UAV communication challenges, learn ways to mitigate UAV communication-related challenges, explore market opportunities in different regions, and analyze the future business outlook of the UAV industry
