NSW Telco Authority, has unveiled a way of providing critical 4G/5G mobile connectivity in emergencies such as natural disasters, using a tethered drone. Using high-speed low-earth orbit satellite connectivity from Vocus Satellite – Starlink, the Australian-made drone acts as a mobile tower in the sky, providing connectivity across an area up to 17.5 square miles, while reportedly being able to fly for an indefinite period thanks to its ground-based power supply.
The heavy-lift drone can carry up to 15kg, hovering in the air with payloads that can include 4G/5G tower equipment, P25 two-way radio equipment and bright flood lights or cameras. This flexibility is designed to enable the drone to provide critical support to emergency services during rescue and recovery situations.
For example, should a person be lost in a rugged mountainous region with no reception, first responders, in collaboration with the person’s mobile carrier, could use the drone to establish a new coverage zone to make contact with the missing person. Likewise, the drone can serve as an airborne mobile tower in a natural disaster situation where mobile towers may have been disrupted or damaged.
Challenge Networks, the Vocus company that specializes in building private 4G/5G networks, designed and built the solution after observing how low-earth orbit satellite connectivity, ground based power, heavy lift drones and compact mobile network equipment could be brought together to solve a significant problem.
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