Verizon Tests Drones to Deliver Network Coverage, Inspect Cell Towers, Venues

Verizon is using drones to provide network coverage and inspect cell towers and venues, it said in a Monday blog post. One remotely controlled drone "successfully" acted as a small cell site to deliver 4G LTE network coverage at Cape May Airport in New Jersey during an emergency management and disaster recovery exercise, the company said. Verizon said the 165-pound, 17-foot wingspan drone, which is owned and operated by American Aerospace Technologies, provided live imagery from 3,000 feet and below, though federal regulators approved flight up to 7,500 feet. The drone can fly 12 to 16 hours at a time, the post added. Another small drone was used to inspect cell sites in North and South Carolina after Hurricane Matthew about three weeks ago (see 1610110038). The company said a drone -- carrying two smartphones -- was used to measure network coverage at an Austin racetrack in advance of a major event. That inspection cut down testing by about 50 percent, compared with walking through the venue, Verizon said.