5G networks will accompany us for at least the next decade as the best option to navigate from mobile devices and have the highest possible speed and coverage. However, for this to reach all users, a significant investment in infrastructure is required. We need antennas that provide coverage to the population and in certain areas this may take longer to arrive or be more complicated. Now two companies have proposed a solution to this problem: use drones to be able to have 5G .
Drones to provide 5G coverage
These are two UK companies that have put on the table an alternative proposal, at least curious, to be able to offer 5G coverage . For this they propose using drones that have antennas and thus be able to offer a faster connection in certain places.
Behind this are the engineering company Cambridge Consultants and the telecommunications company Stratospheric Platforms Limited (SPL). They have presented a test in which they could use drones to offer 5G connections thanks to those antennas that they can carry.
So far they have tested a much smaller prototype than the one that would be used if necessary. The final idea would be to have three-meter antennas, which are in drones at more than 20,000 meters high and that can offer connection to an area of about 140 kilometers in diameter.
Without a doubt we are facing a striking proposal, which breaks with what we are used to seeing in terms of antennas to connect from the mobile. In order to achieve this, they would use drones or small aircraft that do not emit emissions and are powered by hydrogen . They would have the capacity to transport everything necessary for nine days in a row.
They go further in their calculations and from Cambridge Consultants indicate that to cover the entire United Kingdom, a fleet of about 60 aircraft or drones of this type would suffice. They could offer, as they indicate, speeds above 100 Gbps throughout the country.
It must be taken into account that SPL have been working in recent years on different prototypes to be able to deliver communication services through hydrogen-powered aircraft.
Smaller 5G antennas
For this to be possible, 5G antennas are required as small as possible . There they have worked from Cambridge Consultants to create ultra-thin antennas that do not exceed 120 kg. Logically it is still a more than considerable weight, so we could see that we are not close to conventional drones.
They have also carried out tests with previous versions made by Deutsche Telekom to offer 4G / LTE connections. However, now the next step is to apply it to 5G and be able to offer this service in Germany from 2024.
Although all this obviously requires a large investment, having very advanced technology and the necessary means, SPL and Cambridge Consultants indicate that it would save many costs compared to having to maintain huge terrestrial antennas to offer 5G.
What do you think of this idea to offer 5G anywhere? Do you think it could be the future of connections? We leave you an article with the main characteristics of 5G.