For over a year, Swisscom Broadcast has been making waves
with its Drone-as-a-Service offerings. But now, with Nokia, they’re pushing the
boundaries even further. This partnership is all about leveraging Nokia’s
“drone-in-a-box” technology, which isn’t just a cool name—it’s a game-changer.
These units are designed to enhance the operational efficiency of drones for
industrial use and public safety. And with this tech on board, Swisscom can
offer automated drone operations that go beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS),
making everything more seamless and efficient.
5G and BVLOS: The Backbone of Swisscom and Nokia’s Drone
Revolution
So, what makes this partnership so
special? Swisscom has scooped up 300 of Nokia’s advanced drone units. These
drones are built to connect to both public and private 5G and LTE networks,
ensuring they have the stability needed to operate beyond visual line of sight.
And with a flight time of up to 50 minutes and a range of 30 kilometers, these
drones are set to revolutionize how Switzerland approaches Industry 4.0 and
public safety. It’s all about using cutting-edge tech to make things safer,
faster, and more reliable.
From First Responders to Infrastructure Inspections
Swisscom isn’t just stopping at
fancy tech; they’re rolling out three major drone services right off the bat.
First, drones for emergency services will give first responders a massive
leg-up by providing real-time data within minutes of an incident. Second, these
drones will be crucial for infrastructure inspections, making it safer and
easier to check power lines, bridges, and buildings. Lastly, for those
high-security sites—think borders, prisons, military bases—these drones will
beef up security through automated surveillance, making the whole process more
efficient and cost-effective.
Building a Future-Proof Partnership That’s Set to Transform
Drone Operations in Switzerland
This partnership is more than just a
tech upgrade; it’s about laying the groundwork for the future. Swisscom
Broadcast plans to offer a comprehensive drone infrastructure developed and
produced right here in Europe. This isn’t just about flying drones; it’s about
providing end-to-end services, from automated piloting to secure data storage
in Swisscom’s data centers. As Swisscom’s CEO, Dominik Müller, puts it, this
collaboration will speed up the go-to-market of their Drone-as-a-Service
offerings, benefiting both industrial and public safety sectors across
Switzerland.
What’s Next
The Swisscom-Nokia partnership is
setting the stage for what’s next in drone technology, especially when it comes
to integrating drones into industrial operations and public safety. With
Nokia’s advanced tech leading the way, Switzerland is leading in leveraging 5G
and BVLOS capabilities to make industries safer, smarter, and more connected.
