Reliable connectivity isn’t just important on the ground, it’s the invisible infrastructure that makes safe, complex drone operations possible in the air. Whether supporting emergency services or enabling logistics in remote or high-risk environments, communications links must be robust, secure and resilient.
At a recent Drone Connect demo day in Snowdonia, BT and partners Skyfarer, uAvionix, Intelligent Energy together with LEO technology, unveiled a UK first: a hydrogen-powered drone flight operating Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS). This landmark demonstration combined cellular, satellite and aviation-protected C-Band connectivity into a single, resilient command-and-control link, ensuring that the drone stayed connected and under control, even in remote areas where regular networks can’t reach.
Hydrogen power adds a transformative edge. With far greater energy density than lithium-ion batteries, it enables drones to fly for hours rather than minutes, to refuel quickly, and to emit only water vapour. That means safer, more sustainable missions, from mountain rescues to long-distance deliveries over sea or dense urban areas, without adding to carbon emissions.
For BT, this milestone shows how our Drone SIM and multi-layered connectivity can unlock new capabilities for operators and regulators alike. It’s a step towards certified, market-ready services that will allow drones to fly further, carry heavier payloads and operate confidently in complex environments.
As the UK looks to net-zero and to modernise its airspace, BT’s Drone solutions portfolio is helping to redefine what is possible. We’re not just keeping drones – connected, we’re enabling a new era of intelligent flight.
