Nokia and Swisscom collaborate on Swiss drone network

The Finnish tech magnate has teamed up with Swisscom to deploy a drones network across Switzerland aimed at enhancing emergency response and infrastructure inspections. The partnership will see the Finnish telecom company providing 300 unmanned aerial vehicles, operated by Swisscom through a drones-as-a-service (DaaS) network, allowing public safety agencies and other clients to use drones on demand without the need to purchase or operate them.

Swiss public safety organisations, including police and fire services, will be able to request drone flights from Swisscom Broadcast, using the technology to gather crucial data during emergencies. The network will also facilitate the remote inspection of infrastructure such as power lines, solar panels, and oil and gas facilities, reducing the need to send personnel into potentially hazardous situations, according to Thomas Eder, Nokia’s head of embedded wireless.

As drones increasingly find applications beyond military use, including in delivery services and agriculture, there remain concerns about privacy, noise, and safety. Nokia and Swisscom have pledged to work closely with aviation and spectrum regulators to ensure compliance with data protection laws, including the establishment of no-fly zones over sensitive areas like beaches and swimming pools.

Nokia’s venture into drone technology comes as the company continues to innovate, recently introducing immersive technology for phone calls and agreeing to sell its submarine networks to the French state for $374 million. The global industrial drone market is currently valued at between $32 billion and $35 billion, reflecting the growing importance of such technologies in various sectors.