Mobile operators look to the skies with connected UAV opportunity
This report is available to those subscribed to the IoT & Enterprise module.
Unmanned/uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, continue to be a promising future means of transport of goods and people and enabler of transformational applications. However, most UAV-based services are confined to visual line of sight (VLOS) flights, meaning operation is only allowed in close proximity to the pilot (typically up to 2 km). For commercial use cases to scale, automation and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights are needed, for which mobile connectivity is a key enabler. The mobile industry is becoming increasingly relevant to and involved with UAVs: various telecoms regulators have granted special spectrum licences for UAVs, the 3GPP is working to improve synergy between drones and mobile networks, and retailers such as Amazon are testing mmWave-connected drones for goods deliveries. This analysis elaborates on the opportunity, as well as the challenges, that mobile-connected UAVs present for mobile operators.
Related research
The Mobile Economy Latin America 2025
Operators across Latin America are making steady progress on their 5G journey, with adoption forecast to reach more than 50% by 2030. This latest edition of The Mobile Economy Latin America provides an update on key mobile market data and the impact of mobile on the economy across the region.
Mobile Data Deck, Q1 2025
The GSMA Intelligence Mobile Data Deck offers a fast track to all the essential data you need to know, with key mobile metrics in one easy-to-use deck of charts. The forecasts to 2030 include connections by region and technology generation, smartphone connections and adoption, and mobile operator revenue.
The Mobile Economy Eurasia 2025
Governments in Eurasia are increasingly using mobile connectivity as a platform to transform their countries into modern digital economies. This shift is driven by the recognition that robust digital infrastructure, particularly mobile networks, improves public services and unlocks economic growth. Across the region, mobile connectivity is enabling citizens to engage with e-government systems and access education, healthcare and emergency services, even from remote and mountainous regions.
Authors
How to access this report
Annual subscription: Subscribe to our research modules for comprehensive access to more than 200 reports per year.
Enquire about subscriptionContact our research team
Get in touch with us to find out more about our research topics and analysis.
Contact our research teamMedia
To cite our research, please see our citation policy in our Terms of Use, or contact our Media team for more information.
Learn moreRelated research
The Mobile Economy Latin America 2025
Operators across Latin America are making steady progress on their 5G journey, with adoption forecast to reach more than 50% by 2030. This latest edition of The Mobile Economy Latin America provides an update on key mobile market data and the impact of mobile on the economy across the region.
Mobile Data Deck, Q1 2025
The GSMA Intelligence Mobile Data Deck offers a fast track to all the essential data you need to know, with key mobile metrics in one easy-to-use deck of charts. The forecasts to 2030 include connections by region and technology generation, smartphone connections and adoption, and mobile operator revenue.
The Mobile Economy Eurasia 2025
Governments in Eurasia are increasingly using mobile connectivity as a platform to transform their countries into modern digital economies. This shift is driven by the recognition that robust digital infrastructure, particularly mobile networks, improves public services and unlocks economic growth. Across the region, mobile connectivity is enabling citizens to engage with e-government systems and access education, healthcare and emergency services, even from remote and mountainous regions.
- 200 reports a year
- 50 million data points
- Over 350 metrics