Nokia’s Drone Solution: 5G Takes Flight

By: Dawn Zoldi

As industries and public agencies seek to expand the boundaries of what’s possible in aerial data, security and emergency response, Nokia Drone Network solution leads the charge, fueled by the power of 5G. By combining rugged, modular hardware with seamless connectivity and a turnkey operational approach, Nokia aims to redefine the next generation of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for enterprise, public safety and disaster response. The company’s drone evolution from community service projects to full-scale deployments highlights the vital intersection of technology, connectivity and real-world impact for the markets that need it most.

As industries and public safety worldwide increasingly leverage UAS technology, the leap to 5G connectivity takes drone operations to new heights, both literally and figuratively. 

According to Thomas Eder, Nokia’s Head of Embedded Wireless Solutions, “5G is the only way to fly drones nowadays…It’s the solution of the telecommunications industry for true machine-to-machine connectivity and for autonomous technologies.” 

More than just delivering blistering data speeds (think: seamless 4K and even future 8K video) the network’s ultra-reliable, low-latency communications (URLLC) form a backbone that enables synchronized swarms, robust autonomous command links and fast, data-heavy applications.

For drones, this means sub-30 millisecond control response even at distance, dependable high-definition video transmission for real-time situational awareness and the ability to operate fleets. Whether for emergency response or large-scale industrial inspection, 5G enables a wide range of operations without fear of signal bottlenecks or interference. 

However, as Eder noted, market saturation of 5G infrastructure is still in progress. For this reason, Nokia’s solution not only leverages existing networks but is designed to also use private industrial networks where needed to ensure consistent operational standards and security.

Though now recognized as a leading innovator in unmanned aerial ecosystems, Eder comes from a deep background in telecommunications engineering. Having started at Nokia in 2006, and working through the transition from 3G to 4G and into 5G, Eder brings a wealth of connectivity expertise.  “At my core, I am an engineer. I will always remain a telco and connectivity guy, but I deal with drones too,” Eder said.

His team’s shift into the drone domain was driven by a desire to harness these telecom advances for new verticals. Nokia’s foray into drones was not an immediate pivot, but rather a thoughtful expansion in response to community needs and technological opportunity. In 2016, the company launched Nokia Saving Lives, a corporate social responsibility initiative that supplied drones to disaster recovery crews and search and rescue missions globally. 

The early focus revolved around scouting advanced drone technologies on the market and pushing the boundaries by embedding Nokia’s 4G solutions directly into the field units. This led to operational deployments with organizations such as the Philippines Red Cross. Ultimately, the company earned the International Drones For Good award in Dubai in 2017 for its pioneering backpack-portable 4G network and modified drones, hailed as a first on the market.

Buoyed by this success, Nokia’s leadership moved quickly to make drone systems a formal strategic pillar. It invested in both product development and ecosystem partnerships. Eder recounted, “We won the competition, we got 1 million as a prize money. That was the point where we said: okay, let’s drive this further. Let’s make this part of our corporate strategy.” Today, the ethos remains: use technology for good, build systems that scale and keep connectivity as the central thread.

Nokia Drone Networks offers much more than a drone. It provides an integrated operational ecosystem ready for industrial-grade deployment. The key hardware features are a 5G-compatible hexacopter, European-made for quality assurance, configured with payload flexibility for diverse operations. Dual gimbal HD and thermal cameras with 30x optical zoom can be swapped for LiDAR, spotlights or payloads developed via Nokia’s open Payload Development Kit. From a safety standpoint, the system features smart return-to-launch functions, geofencing and emergency parachute deployment to protect both the aircraft and public infrastructure during fully automated missions. According to Eder, every component is CE- and FCC-certified, weatherproof and robust—in his words, “flight-ready” and built to work in the harshest climates. 

Nokia shifted from individual products to a fully-fledged, interconnected ecosystem. The original drone gave way to a “drone in a box” (DIB) dockable station, broad software integrations and robust security protocols, tuned for the rigorous demands of enterprise and public sector verticals. Its DIB system stands out as Nokia’s answer to industrial demand for modularity, reliability and ease of use. The outdoor-rated docking station offers precision landing, fast charging and climate controls for year-round, round-the-clock operations. Dual modem architecture which maintains redundant network links ensures concurrency, which provides seamless connectivity even if one network drops.

Real-world adoption in critical environments provides the true measure of an ecosystem. As such, Belgium represents a landmark deployment for a nationwide drone network. Orchestrated with local operator partner Citymesh, this nationwide drone network now underpins both Drone as First Responder (DFR) operations for public safety and a suite of industrial applications, including ports. Offshore deployments expand the reach into hardened environments exposed to salt water and extreme conditions.

In Eder’s words, “We have really built a nationwide network for both DFR as well as industrial use cases. There is deployment in the ports. There is deployment on every type of fire or police station we can think of. And just this week or next week, there are going to be a couple of offshore deployments with hardened systems for salt water.” 

The success of this interconnected, shared infrastructure points toward a scalable model for other nations to follow, especially as agencies increasingly consider shared resource models for efficiency and cost-savings.

“Drones as a service and drones as shared infrastructure…I think we see many people in the drone industry and outside who really believe in this,” said Eder, pointing to analyst forecasts and market optimism about the model’s future. The Belgian deployment stands as a flagship example of this vision in action, setting the foundation for expansion to other regions and verticals.

The modular nature and robust connectivity of Nokia’s solution have made it a standout across several demanding verticals:

• Public Safety / DFR: High-speed, reliable video and data transmission enable drones to provide situational awareness ahead of ground teams to reduce risks and improve outcomes for emergency responders.
  
• Industrial / Enterprise: Nokia focuses on customers like ports, oil and gas refineries and manufacturing plants where private, secure networks and heavily customized payloads remain essential for inspection, mapping and security operations.
  
• Border Patrol and Highway Monitoring: Nokia’s nationwide backbone and tight integration with response protocols enable autonomous patrol beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS).
  
• Defense / Security: Although not active in battlefield contexts, Nokia’s security architecture sets the groundwork for future applications, leveraging 4G/5G standardized encryption and sophisticated VPN services for resilience against cyber threats and jamming.

As part of its growth strategy, Nokia has forged strong partnerships crucial for delivering specialized solutions that meet the diverse needs of clients. Eder emphasized, “It’s really difficult to build a jack of all trades in the drone industry. Focus, especially for high technology and innovation, is very, very important. That’s where we had to realize…maybe we should also look left and right at what is out there on the market to build payloads and to build cameras, and that’s where a very important partner like Gremsy comes in. The best in their verticals help us enter new markets and grow even further.”

Nokia’s partnership with Gremsy, a global leader in precision gimbal and payload solutions, has resulted in the integration of Gremsy’s VIO and ORUS-L payloads into Nokia’s 4G/5G DIB platform. Such integrations enable AI-powered analytics, high-resolution video and robust situational awareness during remote operations, which has unlocked new opportunities and market segments for both companies. Demonstrations throughout 2025 have showcased the seamless interoperability and real-world value of this technological synergy. Expanded joint development will continue pushing the boundaries of advanced payload integration.

Nokia has forged another key collaboration with Flying Lion in the U.S., a recognized provider of operational drone services to public safety and enterprise sectors. This relationship enhances Nokia’s ability to deliver comprehensive turnkey solutions tailored for demanding use cases such as law enforcement, emergency services and enterprise asset monitoring. Flying Lion’s boots-on-the-ground perspective ensures that Nokia’s technology translates into effective field operations that address real-world challenges. (Watch Nokia and Flying Lion on a previous Dawn of Autonomy episode).

Nokia’s strategy of openness, modular architecture and targeted partnerships means stakeholders benefit from a future-proof platform that can quickly adapt to evolving industry standards and customer requirements.

Nokia Drone Network solution demonstrates not only how 5G takes flight, but how decades of connectivity expertise unite with thoughtful partnerships to build an ecosystem capable of supporting the needs of tomorrow’s airborne operations.

Public safety, enterprise, and border security are just the beginning. The company’s model for robust, shared infrastructure and open architecture points toward a future where the electrification of the airspace becomes as natural as that of our roads and cities. In the coming months and years, Eder said expect see further scaling and refinement, as market research agencies and investors work alongside manufacturers and technology integrators to develop sustainable drone infrastructure. 

Nokia’s open-architecture approach, inviting partnerships with best-of-breed payload and software vendors, signals its willingness to build “better together” solutions, essential for meeting the diverse and evolving requirements of public safety, industry and security. For stakeholders considering joining the network or establishing similar capabilities, Eder encourages reaching out to Nokia directly or via LinkedIn. 

Eder concluded, “We at Nokia believe that we can still contribute to the drone industry, to help mature certain standards, help other players bring 4G and 5G for drones forward and help build this ecosystem even further than where we have gone so far.” He continued, “With the right vendors and the right partners, we will be able to modernize the airspace and electrify the airspace with drones.” 

As the world watches Belgium’s deployment and eyes further expansion, it’s clear that the sky is no longer the limit. It’s simply the next, fully connected frontier.

Watch Thomas Eder / Nokia on the recent Dawn of Autonomy podcast.