Wireless carriers on Monday urged federal regulators to utilize licensed commercial spectrum for communications between airborne drones.
Industry group CTIA said that as the Federal Aviation Administration prepares to craft the first rules for drone communications early next year, the agency should endorse licensed networks instead of unlicensed spectrum or a dedicated band similar to those used by airlines.
The group said that the wide availability and reliability of commercial networks supports communications between drones and other connected infrastructure at low altitudes and minimizes the risk of losing contact with ground stations.
Officials also touted licensed spectrum’s interoperability between drones and traffic management systems, as well as strong authentication practices and other security systems.
Those features, added CTIA President and CEO Meredith Attwell Baker, will only be enhanced as the industry deploys faster, next-generation networks.
“Commercial drones will help industries from energy to agriculture and logistics while enhancing public safety, but they will need the wireless industry’s networks to reach their full potential,” Baker said in a statement.
Filed Under: Industry regulations + certifications
