EE and Nokia has conducted a Prove-of-Concept(POC) trial to provide instant 4G data coverage in rural areas using mini mobile base stations carried by drones floating in the air. The trial which was carried out in Inverness, Scotland, saw both the companies using Nokia Flexi Zone Pico cells that weighed just 2kg each, carried by the drone.
Nokia wrote in a blog that, "The tests showed that with the help of the drone, mobile coverage can be established very quickly over ranges of several kilometres. High quality LTE voice calls between responders, video streaming and up to 150 Mbps data throughput were all achieved, with no need for a connection to an external core network."
It added that "If integration to an existing core is needed, Nokia has also tested the backhaul of a standard small cell with the EE core via satellite. What’s more, the solution makes use of the recently launched Ultra Compact Network, a deployable system which combines a small cell with an embedded LTE core network resulting in a very compact and flexible solution."
According to Nokia, this approach will create a whole new dimension for network operators, allowing them to provide temporary 4G coverage in underserved areas or to quickly expand capacity at large events.