Qualcomm Technologies and US telecommunications conglomerate AT&T will carry out a trail to understand the flying performance of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drones on cellular networks.

The trial will use AT&T’s commercial 4G LTE networks and evaluate how drones can operate safely and more securely on existing and future networks, including 5G.

With the trial, both firms aims to help allow future drone operations, including beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS), as regulations develop to permit them.

"The results can help inform positive developments in drone regulations and 5G specifications as they pertain to wide-scale deployment of numerous drone use cases.”

To be conducted on the basis of Qualcomm Snapdragon Flight drone development platforms, the trial will begin at Qualcomm’s FAA-authorised UAS flight centre in San Diego, US, from later part of this month.

Qualcomm Technologies executive vice-president and chief technology officer Matt Grob said: “The trial with a carrier with the reach and technology of AT&T is a significant step in the development of connectivity technologies for small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS), including optimisation of LTE networks and advancement of 5G technology for drones.

“Not only do we aim to analyse wide-scalable LTE optimisation for safe, legal commercial SUAS use cases with beyond line-of-sight connectivity, but the results can help inform positive developments in drone regulations and 5G specifications as they pertain to wide-scale deployment of numerous drone use cases.”

During the trial, the concerned team will look at coverage, signal, strength and mobility across network cells and how they work in flight.

The companies said that ability to fly beyond an operator’s visual range could allow successful delivery, remote inspection and exploration activities.

By using wireless technology drones will also be able to perform several other activities, including clear coverage, high-speed mobile support, security, high reliability and quality of service (QoS).