KPN Drone Connect for safe drone flights

KPN introduces Drone Connect for safe drone flights. This allows drones to be connected to KPN’s mobile 5G network and commercial drone application in the Netherlands is one step closer. In addition, thanks to “application priority”, drones can be given priority on the network so that wireless control, positioning, communication and data exchange are guaranteed.

KPN Drone Connect and Amsterdam Drone Week
KPN will be showing this new service to the public during Amsterdam Drone Week (ADW). The global ecosystem then gathers for a few days and watches, listens and discusses the future of unmanned aviation and the opportunities for commercial application. Jacob Groote, responsible for innovation and partnerships at KPN: “With Drone Connect we are taking commercial drone applications in the Netherlands one step further so that we can fly from A to B safely and in a controlled manner. With a total package of connectivity and priority on the network so that control and real-time data exchange of, for example, camera images, position determination and insight into the ground and air risk are guaranteed. We also offer a route planner for the most efficient and safe escape route with the best mobile coverage.”

Extremely reliable
In addition to connectivity for control, data exchange and positioning, Drone Connect offers users additional security, so that the flight can be realized safely and efficiently. With the help of 5G technology, KPN can keep the mobile connectivity of the drone available with priority, even if the network is busier, for example. This offers, for example, a solution for drone use in critical processes or when used by emergency services during calamities.

Route planner
KPN has also developed a route planner for drones. Since drones take to the air, it is important to know how the coverage in the air is. The route planner provides insight into the quality of the network coverage on the expected escape route. This allows the flight to be prepared and adjusted in response to the need for connectivity. Very important, because a drone must always remain controllable. Especially when the drone is controlled outside the field of view, which is also called “BVLOS” (beyond visual line of sight).

Drone applications
Drones can play a very important social role in the future. For example, to use less crop protection products in potato cultivation, or for parcel delivery to ships, the urgent transport of blood, medicines and other medical goods or as an extra pair of eyes for the detection of drowning people at sea. Allowing drones and manned aviation to fly safely through the airspace is also the goal of the collaboration that LVNL (Air Traffic Control the Netherlands), ANWB and KPN recently entered into. The ‘Drone Connect’ service is also used for this.

Despite the fact that the number of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles is increasing sharply, there is still no design and control of the airspace. Steps are now being taken in the field of legislation and regulation, which is also crucial to make commercial drones possible. This topic is also high on the agenda during Amsterdam Drone Week.