Swisscom Broadcast is establishing a secure infrastructure in Switzerland to support and operate automated drone flights as a service. This new drone network, launching in autumn 2024, will enable clients to utilise secure drones for tasks such as infrastructure inspections, police operations, and the protection of large-scale sites. Swisscom Broadcast offers a comprehensive service, including the necessary infrastructure, SORA applications, and data storage, all from a single source.
For over a year, Swisscom Broadcast has been providing tailored drone flights as a service. Its collaboration with Nokia Drone Networks has now elevated this offering to a new level. The introduction of “drone-in-a-box” units will enhance the operational efficiency of drone applications for industrial purposes and public safety, enabling automated operations beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS).
Initially, three drone services will be available as part of the drone network’s launch:
- Emergency services support: Remotely operated drones will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of first responders. By providing critical information within the first few minutes of an incident, these drones enable rapid and coordinated deployment of emergency services. The use of air hazard monitoring sensors also increases on-site safety for responders. Quick assessments of accident scenes, fires, or crime scenes reduce response times, potentially saving lives
- Infrastructure inspections: The drone-in-a-box units, distributed across Switzerland, will improve the safety of personnel involved in maintaining power lines, bridges, and buildings. Companies responsible for critical infrastructure can easily order drones for inspections in hazardous or hard-to-reach areas. Regular inspections help detect and address damage early, ensuring that infrastructure remains well-maintained and compliant with legal monitoring requirements. Swisscom Broadcast utilises drones from its network to conduct inspections at intervals specified by the customer, generating detailed images. These images can be used to create digital twins, if needed, with artificial intelligence employed to efficiently identify significant changes to the infrastructure
- Enhanced site protection: The evolving geopolitical landscape and new technologies necessitate increased protection of critical infrastructure, production sites, public spaces, prisons, borders, and police or military facilities. Swisscom’s perimeter protection solution, in partnership with others, employs drones both on the ground and in the air for straightforward inspection tasks. These drones, combined with alarm sensors, significantly bolster the security of sensitive locations. Automated drone-based surveillance helps reduce costs within a defined security framework
Strict regulations for autonomous drone flights
Drone flights beyond direct visual contact are subject to specific regulations. Risks must be minimised both in the air and on the ground. The Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) oversees drone operations in Switzerland using the Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) method. Nokia, along with the relevant regulatory authorities (OFCOM), ensures that all flight activities adhere to the legal framework, particularly concerning the use of frequencies and flight safety.
Partnership with Nokia
The collaboration between Nokia and Swisscom has drawn on extensive experience in 4G/5G to jointly develop the drone infrastructure. Both companies possess the expertise and resources necessary to efficiently implement this project, which will benefit all of Switzerland. Nokia’s proficiency in developing high-quality hardware and software, coupled with its experience in establishing a drone network in Belgium, has been instrumental in this endeavour.
Looking ahead, Swisscom Broadcast will provide customers with access to European-developed and produced drone infrastructure, offering a complete range of drone services from a single source. This includes consultation, automated piloting, flight monitoring, and secure data storage in Swisscom’s data centres.
“The development of the nationwide drone network marks a further milestone in the development of digital security solutions in Switzerland. With Nokia’s Drone Networks, we are adopting an established, end-to-end solution for networked drones with industrial and public security applications. In Nokia, I am confident that we have a strong partner by our side. Together, we can take drone-based security to the next level,” said Dominik Müller, CEO, Swisscom Broadcast.
“We are proud to be collaborating with Swisscom Broadcast, genuine innovators in drone-as-a-service solutions, on this important project to establish a nationwide drone-as-a-service network for Switzerland. The Nokia Drone Networks solution uses our Industrial Edge Technology (MXIE) with highly developed computing and software functions, thus facilitating large-scale projects. It will undoubtedly ensure that Swiss companies can access a first-class drone-as-a-service offering, in order to increase employee and public safety,” added Raghav Sahgal, President of Cloud and Network Services at Nokia.
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