Nokia has had its industrial LTE and 5G drone resolution (Nokia Drone Networks) licensed by the Federal Communications Fee (FCC) within the US. It mentioned it’s the first “native 4G/5G drone-in-a-box resolution” to get the nod from the FCC. It’s focused at industrial and public sector clients, and will likely be bought with its personal LTE and 5G merchandise. It incorporates community measurement capabilities from Germany-based check firm Rohde & Schwarz.

The drone resolution helps past visible line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations. Nokia mentioned it should lean on its channel partnerships within the US, notably with system integrator Kyndryl, with which it has shaped a detailed partnership within the Trade 4.0 area, but in addition with AT&T and Verizon, and likewise with the likes of DXC Know-how, Future Applied sciences Enterprise, Graybar, and Trilogy NextGen, amongst others.

The partnership with Rohde & Schwarz has been necessary to get the FCC move. The pair initially signed a deal final 12 months to embed the latter’s QualiPoc measurement instruments into the drone platform. Nokia known as it a “first-of-its-kind resolution” to “increase use instances for purchasers with deeper data round wi-fi community protection and efficiency”. The cooperation has since prolonged to machine testing and certification, together with with the FCC. 

The German agency’s R&S CMX500 radio communication tester product was utilised by Nokia Bell Labs for “radiated and carried out emissions” testing, and has been embedded into the drone and community elements to make sure compliance with regulatory requirements and “mission-critical” efficiency, mentioned Nokia. It said: “[Its rich tool set… and the flexible web-based R&S CMsquares user interface were instrumental… in signaling protocol tests.”

Nokia explained: “Resilient connectivity is critical to remote drone operation, real-time streaming of data collected during a drone mission, and BVLOS operation using a large set of 3GPP spectrum bands. Research and development efforts have pushed the boundaries in terms of RF design and connectivity performance. Innovative features such as full network connection redundancy, multi-operator support, and hot failover also differentiate Nokia Drone Networks in terms of operational reliability.”

Thomas Eder, head of embedded wireless solutions at Nokia, said: “This achievement highlights the vital role that collaboration and diligent testing play in the 5G era. By meeting the FCC’s rigorous standards, we are shaping the path in the US for industrial and public sector use cases, improved 5G spectrum monetization, and the nationwide roll-out of drones for BVLOS operations on 3GPP spectrum.”

Olaf Heisch, director of target accounts for mobile network testing at Rohde & Schwarz, said: “This achievement underscores the transformative capabilities of our radio communication tester. Its role in securing FCC certification… is a testament to its pivotal position in driving innovation in the 5G and drone technology landscape. This collaboration highlights the power of cutting-edge technology and strategic partnerships in shaping the future of the industry.”