Telefónica showcases its capabilities in scaling and automating European airspace with drones

A few days ago, Telefónica took part in the 1st Conference on Airspace Scalability and Automation, organised by AESA, CDTI, CATEC and the Polytechnic University of Valencia. The event, held at the CDTI headquarters in Madrid, brought together key players in the UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) ecosystem to discuss the regulatory, technological and operational challenges of airspace automation in Europe. 

In an environment closed to experts from the sector, three fundamental axes were addressed:  

• How to enable drones to operate beyond the pilot's field of view (BVLOS), which would open the door to new business models and greater operational autonomy.
• How to scale these operations to be sustainable, safe and repeatable on a large scale.  
• What technological and innovative solutions are needed to build an automated airspace that meets the efficiency, regulatory and trust requirements of the ecosystem. 

In the round table dedicated to the scalability of operations, Telefónica was represented by Open Gateway's Senior Product Manager for Drones Violeta González Fernández. At the event, Gonzalez shared his vision on the role of mobile networks in the evolution of European airspace.

 
"Beyond providing connectivity, operators can deliver critical data for automated decision-making, enabling new levels of safety and efficiency for U-space service providers, authorities and drone operators." 

In addition, two other main axes were addressed during the intervention:    

Is the mobile network ready for drones?   

The current state of networks for BVLOS operations and the roadmap towards a truly drone-ready network: vertical coverage, traffic prioritisation, resilience and guaranteed quality of service were analysed.

 
The need for collaboration between telcos, regulators and UAS manufacturers to validate these capabilities in real-world scenarios was also highlighted. 
  
  
The differential value of telco APIs  
 
Telefónica presented three APIs from the Open Gateway framework as key enablers of the U-space ecosystem: 

• API Dynamic Airspace Connectivity Data: It enables optimal route planning by providing visibility on mobile connectivity levels in different areas of airspace. A key tool to avoid loss of connection between drone and pilot.
• API Population Density Data: It provides predictive analysis of the concentration of people in the flight zone, facilitating safe and responsible mission planning decisions.
• Quality of Service API (QoD Mobile / Network Slicing): In 5G environments, it allows reserving a specific portion of the network exclusively for drone traffic, ensuring stable connectivity adapted to each use case. 

  
 These APIs, based on the open standard CAMARA (GSMA), can be easily integrated with UTM platforms, USSPs or regulatory dashboards, accelerating the technical and regulatory adoption of U-Space in Europe. 

The interest generated by these capabilities was remarkable. Following the intervention, multiple stakeholders - from Drone platform developers to regulatory authorities - were interested in our network solutions in test environments or pilot projects. The session extended beyond the scheduled time, demonstrating the relevance of telco capabilities as a catalyst for the growth of the UAS sector.
  
 Participation in this event reaffirms the vision of Telefónica and the Open Gateway project: to build an infrastructure of standardised network APIs to support strategic industries such as advanced air mobility.

As Europe drives the progressive deployment of U-Space, these network APIs can act as a layer of trust between digital infrastructure and physical space, facilitating the secure automation of complex operations, from hospital logistics to industrial environments such as ports or 112 emergency services.
 
Leverage the potential of our network capabilities to improve the automation and safety of your drone operations. Being part of the Telefónica Open Gateway Partner Program will give you access to this technology, dedicated support and opportunities to innovate in the sector.