Ericsson has proposed using existing 5G tower networks to detect and track drones instead of deploying dedicated sensors, according to a report from DroneDJ. The approach could lower the cost of low-altitude airspace monitoring for cities and critical infrastructure operators by reusing telecom infrastructure already in place.
If commercialized, the method would provide an infrastructure-level data source for UTM, counter-UAS and airspace compliance systems. That would shift part of the detection burden from standalone radar and sensor installations to mobile network operators.
This means drone operations compliance may increasingly depend on telecom network data, creating new technical standards and integration requirements around device registration, remote identification and flight-data exchange. For operators, airspace service providers and drone manufacturers, the shift implies closer coordination with mobile network operators and updated telemetry architectures.
| Stakeholder | Potential Impact |
|---|---|
| Drone operators | Greater emphasis on remote ID and flight-data reporting for network-based tracking. |
| Airspace service providers | New data feeds from telecom networks to supplement UTM and counter-UAS systems. |
| Drone manufacturers | Integration requirements for registration, telemetry and compliance modules. |
Read more at the original source.
Network-based drone tracking raises integration needs for compliant, identifiable drones. Battery and power subsystems must support remote-ID and telemetry modules; our drone battery focus on optimized design and fast response supports custom low-volume builds, with https://tool.liion-batt.com for cell comparison.