Deutsche Telekom Deploys Drone-Based Mobile Network for Temporary Coverage

Deutsche Telekom has deployed a drone to provide mobile network coverage for the first time on a live commercial network. During the Jizerska 50 ski race in the Czech Republic, the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operated at an altitude of 2.3 kilometres, delivering connectivity to an otherwise uncovered six-kilometre stretch of the racecourse. “This makes Deutsche Telekom the first-ever carrier in Europe to deploy this type of flying base station,” the operator said on Friday.

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Mobile Network Solution

The German telecom operator partnered with Primoco UAV SE to jointly develop and test the solution for temporary coverage, which provided continuous coverage under favourable weather conditions for four hours. Participants and visitors at the event experienced download speeds of up to 95 Mbps and uploads of 34 Mbps, ensuring reliable communication in the remote, protected landscape.

“Jizerska 50 offered an ideal deployment scenario for the flying antenna system: The Jizera Mountains Protected Landscape Area is a frequent venue for sporting events and at the same time a nature reserve. Without interfering with the protected area, T-Mobile Czech Republic could ensure the 4,460 participants in the 50-kilometre main race were always connected – reaching download speeds of up to 95 Megabits per second and an uplink of up to 34 Megabits per second,” Deutsche Telekom highlighted.

Temporary Mobile Coverage

The drone-based flying base station, developed by Deutsche Telekom‘s innovation team based in the Czech Republic, is designed for deployment in areas where conventional infrastructure is unfeasible. According to the operator, the solution can be used for large-scale sporting and cultural events, as well as emergency situations such as floods, earthquakes, or wildfires.