Nokia showcases LTE technology for the use of drones in smart cities

Dubai, UAE – Nokia is showcasing its innovative Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Traffic Management (UTM) concept for the safe operation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) via LTE at the UAE Drones for Good Award event in Dubai from February 4-6. The real-time demonstration follows an invitation from the Organizing Committee of the UAE Drones for Good Award, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. An LTE network is a secure foundation for network operators, governments and public safety authorities to monitor and control drones.

Multiple industry sectors, including healthcare, logistics, agriculture, news and entertainment are embracing the benefits of drones, but carefully managing UAV growth is a challenge for governments and aviation authorities. Nokia’s technology provides centralized monitoring and control of UAVs via an operator’s existing LTE network or dedicated LTE networks run by government or public safety departments.

Click to Tweet: Live demo in Dubai: @nokianetworks demonstrates safe drone use in #smartcities using #LTE nokia.ly/1PySo26 #maketechhuman @uaeD4G

Technical details at a glance:

• LTE network technology combined with a Mobile Edge Computing platform
• Drones equipped with LTE dongles, GPS and access modules for telemetry data
• Computing and processing components to monitor airspace, view and control drone flight paths and transfer telemetry data as well as establish dynamic no-flight zones
• Mobile app for UAV pilot with UTM interface
  

Joachim Wuilmet, head of Customer Marketing and Communications, Middle East and Africa, Nokia, said: “LTE enables innovative high-bandwidth services for the telecom industry and beyond. With market-leading LTE expertise, Nokia’s UTM concept for operators and authorities can enable the safe operation of drones as part of the development of smart cities in UAE and around the globe. Nokia innovations such as this are well aligned with our vision to expand the human possibilities of technology in the connected world.”

Amer Abdulraoof, Deputy Coordinator General of the UAE Drones For Good Award, said: “The UAE Drones for Good Award aims at highlighting the latest developments in drones technology and its diverse uses in various sectors, including emergency and logistics services. We believe that Nokia’s technology will help unlock the multifold possibilities of drones technology, ensuring the safe and secure operation of drones across industry sectors.”

Picture: Drone embedded with LTE dongle

Did you know?
The use of drones is becoming a common phenomenon with many industry sectors profiting from their benefits the world over. Nokia is exploring the potential uses of drones. In July 2015 it employed telco drones with du to carry smartphones with network testing applications in order to analyze du’s network. Telco drones were also used for tower inspections, radio planning and Line of Sight (LoS) testing between radio towers.