Nokia and Swisscom broadcast unveil Switzerland’s largest Drones-as-a-Service network

Swisscom Broadcast has announced a groundbreaking collaboration with Nokia to deploy Switzerland’s largest Drones-as-a-Service network. This extensive rollout will feature 300 Nokia Drone-in-a-Box units, aimed at transforming emergency response, perimeter protection, and infrastructure inspection across the country, thereby enhancing public safety.

Major Milestone in Drone Technology

The deployment marks Nokia’s second large-scale Drone Networks project following its previous success in Belgium with Citymesh. This new network will leverage Nokia’s advanced mission-critical industrial edge computing (MXIE) technology and 3GPP standards to enable autonomous beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations. This setup represents a significant technological advancement in drone infrastructure.

Enhancing Public Safety and Operational Efficiency

The introduction of these drones will significantly improve emergency response times and safety. By providing real-time, high-definition video and data within the initial minutes of an incident, the drones will aid first responders in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the situation quickly. This rapid data collection and analysis can enhance situational awareness, optimize resource allocation, and potentially save lives.

The drones will be remotely operated, offering a safer alternative for monitoring and managing critical infrastructure. This capability is especially valuable for inspecting hard-to-reach or hazardous sites without putting human lives at risk. By integrating video and thermal cameras, the drones can capture detailed images and data, supporting both immediate response and long-term planning.

Streamlined Access for Public Safety Agencies

Swisscom Broadcast’s Drones-as-a-Service model will allow public safety agencies to request drone flights with the ease of a ride-sharing service. This streamlined access ensures that emergency services can deploy drones swiftly and efficiently as needed. The service will include a comprehensive support portfolio from Nokia and Swisscom Broadcast, encompassing expertise in data collection, compliance, and operational support.

Industrial and Regulatory Implications

The deployment of these drones will extend beyond public safety applications, impacting various Swiss industries. The drones will facilitate the inspection of infrastructure such as telecommunications towers, bridges, and power lines, reducing the need for workers to perform dangerous tasks at height. Additionally, the integration of Nokia’s MXIE platform will enable the creation of 3D maps, asset detection, and other advanced industrial applications.

Nokia and Swisscom Broadcast are committed to ensuring that all operations comply with Swiss regulatory frameworks, particularly those related to spectrum management and aviation safety. This regulatory adherence is crucial for the successful implementation and scaling of the drone network.

Technological Integration and Future Prospects

The Drone-as-a-Service solution encompasses a turnkey package, including the drones, docking stations, ground control stations, and payloads equipped with video and thermal cameras. This all-in-one approach also includes software and service components designed to integrate seamlessly with existing systems. The solution supports interfaces and APIs for easy integration with third-party applications such as traffic monitoring, video management, and industrial inspection systems.

The collaboration aims to advance various use cases in automation and BVLOS operations, extending the capabilities of 3GPP technologies within Switzerland. This partnership highlights Nokia’s role as a leader in drone network technology and its commitment to enhancing both public and industrial safety through innovation.

Dominik Müller, CEO of Swisscom Broadcast, emphasized the significance of this partnership, noting that Nokia’s industrial-grade hardware combined with Swisscom’s existing expertise will accelerate the launch of their Drones-as-a-Service offering. Müller highlighted that the integration of their People Density Tool with Nokia’s technology is pivotal for supporting large-scale projects.

Raghav Sahgal, President of Cloud and Network Services at Nokia, expressed pride in the collaboration, noting that Nokia’s Drone Networks solution, underpinned by MXIE technology, is designed for large-scale implementations. Sahgal believes the network will enhance Swiss enterprises’ access to advanced drone services, contributing to improved safety and operational efficiency.