A new consortium, led by Skyports Drone Services, has been launched to explore the potential of 5G services in supporting drone operations in rural areas. Funded by the UK Space Agency, the Connectivity for Remote Orkney Future Transport (CROFT) project will investigate how space technologies can be used to establish 5G-enabled drone deliveries for remote island communities in Orkney, Scotland.
The consortium includes Skyports Drone Services, Satellite Applications Catapult, Stratospheric Platforms (UK) Limited, Cranfield University, and West Midlands 5G. Together, they will assess the feasibility of using 5G technology to improve access and connectivity for Orkney’s remote communities.
Over the next 22 months, the project will focus on developing Sky5, a 5G-enabled drone service designed to provide low-latency, high-density communication and coverage necessary for uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs). Additionally, the project will define the functional and performance requirements needed to create scalable 5G drone delivery services in challenging rural environments.
Alex Brown, Director of Skyports Drone Services, stated, “The roll-out of 5G presents a huge opportunity for drone operations. With 5G we’re unlocking ever more advanced capabilities, benefitting from rapid data exchange between our remote operations centre and the aircraft. We stay connected to our aircraft at all times throughout our journeys using both satellite connectivity and cellular signals. This is critical for our Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights, which allow us to reach more people and communities – as we will demonstrate with this project.”
Henny Sands, Head of Telecommunications at the UK Space Agency, commented, “The UK has always been at the forefront of scientific innovation, and we are focused on supporting British companies that are continuing that tradition. As the CROFT project shows, space technologies can help develop services that improve people’s lives, in this instance using drones with advanced satellite and 5G connectivity to deliver essential supplies to rural areas, often in challenging conditions. We look forward to Skyports’ continuing success and its productive contribution to the growth of the UK satellite communications industry.”
The CROFT project is funded by the UK Space Agency’s “Connecting People” Call, part of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) Telecoms Space for 5G & 6G Strategic Programme. This programme invited proposals from industry and academia to develop sustainable 5G/6G technologies, products, and services that offer benefits beyond the Space Sector.
Skyports has been focusing on Scotland for its drone delivery initiatives, completing several projects across the region since 2020 to test the feasibility of using drones for middle- and last-mile logistics. This is the second project based in Orkney for Skyports, following the launch of inter-island drone deliveries for the Royal Mail in August 2023.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
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