AT&T, Ericsson Detect Drones at 300-400 Feet on 5G Network as 6G Push Builds
Updated
Updated · PR Newswire · Jul 10
AT&T, Ericsson Detect Drones at 300-400 Feet on 5G Network as 6G Push Builds
3 articles · Updated · PR Newswire · Jul 10
Summary
Multiple drones flying 300 to 400 feet above authorized airspace near AT&T Stadium were detected, located and continuously tracked in real time using AT&T and Ericsson’s 5G network-sensing demonstration.
Existing cellular towers and Ericsson Massive MIMO radios across multiple sites formed a multi-static sensing setup, combining communications signals, signal processing and AI algorithms to turn the network into a distributed sensing platform.
The test showed 5G can deliver capabilities often tied to future 6G systems without separate standalone sensors, with the companies highlighting potential use around major venues, critical infrastructure and public spaces.
AT&T and Ericsson said the work could support wider low-altitude drone awareness, event logistics and future standards development as they prepare further demonstrations ahead of major events including Los Angeles 2028.
If 5G networks can now see drones, what prevents them from becoming a pervasive public surveillance system?
Can repurposing cell towers for sensing unlock new revenue, or is it a 6G capability arriving too soon?
From 5G to 6G: How AT&T and Ericsson’s Drone Detection Sets New Standards for Network-Based Sensing
Overview
AT&T and Ericsson have demonstrated that existing commercial 5G networks can be transformed into advanced distributed sensing platforms, enabling real-time drone detection without the need for extra hardware. By leveraging advancements in software and radios, they showed that some features expected from future 6G networks, like Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC), can already be used today. This approach not only enhances security and operational capabilities in complex environments but also paves the way for a smooth transition to 6G. The demonstration highlights immediate commercial potential and sets a new standard for cost-effective, scalable threat detection using current infrastructure.