At the Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas, Paul Dolejschi, Business Development Manager at Dimetor, joined Eszter Kovács, CEO of DroneTalks, to discuss how Dimetor’s AirborneRF technology is transforming BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) drone operations. 

The conversation highlighted the launch of the AirborneRF Self-Service Portal, its role in enabling safer and more efficient flights, and Dimetor’s growing presence in the U.S. commercial drone market.

Dimetor, through its AirborneRF technology, bridges the data gap between communication service providers (CSPs) and the aviation ecosystem. They support safe BVLOS drone operations by identifying 3D flight corridors with reliable connectivity and providing ground risk assessments based on anonymized cellular mobility data.

Developed by telecom and aviation experts,AirborneRF’s key contributions to MNO services are the following:

  • Connectivity Insights: By providing real-time network quality information along flight paths, AirborneRF ensures UAS operators maintain consistent communications throughout BVLOS missions.
  • Ground Risk Assessments: AirborneRF delivers critical data on population density and ground risks, allowing operators to adjust routes and comply with regulatory requirements.
  • Real-Time Alerts: Integrated with UTM systems, AirborneRF delivers real-time network updates, ensuring any potential disruptions are managed to keep operations safe.
  • GNSS independent, Alternative Position: AirborneRF delivers real-time information about the UAV position in the airspace, independent from GNSS systems, providing another redundancy layer for assuring safety and revenue opportunities.

AirborneRF is being deployed across the world, with avid success in Australia, Europe, and North America.

Breaking barriers with the AirborneRF Self-Service Portal

Dimetor’s newly launched AirborneRF Self-Service Portal represents a major step forward in drone connectivity. This intuitive platform provides drone operators with seamless access to real-time connectivity data from participating telecom providers. By logging in to the portal, operators can view essential information about airspace connectivity and ground population density, enabling more efficient planning and execution of BVLOS missions.

Speaking on the new product, Paul commented “This portal allows drone operators to access connectivity data more easily than ever before.”

The portal simplifies several key processes for operators:

Access to connectivity insights: Leveraging mobile network data, the platform enables operators to predict and assess network coverage, ensuring stable Command and Control (C2) links during operations.

Ground risk evaluation: With anonymized population density data, operators can comply with regulatory frameworks like SORA 2.5 and address safety concerns effectively.

Streamlined mission planning: Connectivity and ground risk data provided by the portal allow for better route planning and smoother regulatory approvals, reducing pre-flight complexities.

The platform’s versatility extends to real-time updates during missions, enabling operators to adapt quickly to changing conditions. For those seeking a deeper level of automation, the portal supports API integrations that enhance process efficiency and provide live data throughout flight operations.

By prioritizing ease of use and scalability, the AirborneRF Self-Service Portal bridges the gap between telecom providers and drone operators, fostering the growth of advanced BVLOS operations.

Entering and understanding the U.S. Drone Market in comparison to Europe

Dimetor’s success with AirborneRF in Europe has positioned the company as a leader in enabling scalable drone operations, partnering with giants such as Vodafone, Telefonica and Orange. As the industry continues to evolve, the U.S. market also offers a unique and dynamic opportunity for continued expansion.

AirborneRF’s capabilities were officially recognized by the U.S. Department of Transportation in a recently published whitepaper on Electronic Conspicuity. The paper highlighted the potential of terrestrial cellular networks in advancing Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operations and how platforms such as AirborneRF play a pivotal role in assessing cellular connectivity and detect-and-avoid capabilities.

With the U.S. commercial drone market valued at $6.5 billion for 2024, the U.S. has primarily focused on visual line-of-sight operations, commented Paul. However, BVLOS is quickly emerging as the next frontier. Dimetor is in talks with major mobile network operators to support this evolution, providing critical connectivity data that will enable safer and more efficient operations at scale, “we are on a good path to provide data for all of the U.S.” said Paul.

The U.S. drone industry’s fast-paced growth, coupled with its demand for innovation, underscores its potential as a key market for Dimetor and the broader adoption of AirborneRF technology. 

Comparing the American and European markets, Paul added: “The US market is probably more homogeneous than Europe, we see big industry leaders like Walmart and Amazon pushing hard in last-mile delivery and I’m very excited about that dynamic.

“In Europe, we see more initiatives come from different countries. Germany, for example, is taking leaps with BVLOS and deliveries with our official partner Vodafone. Overall, Europe is still definitely fragmented with different countries taking different steps at different times. But both markets are very exciting for us and remain our focus”

The role of events and conferences for the advancement of the drone industry

Paul and Eszter discussed the significance of events such as the Commercial UAV and how important it is for industry stakeholders to come together to share knowledge and insights for the advancement of the industry. 

Speaking on his experience at the Expo, Paul said “I have met with many stakeholders, you can really see a common mindset and everyone is very committed to moving the industry forward.” Events like the Commercial UAV present a moment like no other for partnerships and new opportunities to arise between companies and stakeholders within the industry.

“I’m really very optimistic to lay the groundwork for some important things to come.”

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