Last month, T-Mobile was granted authority to conduct tests in Bellevue and Redmond, Washington, using AWS-3 spectrum to operate unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, up to 400 feet in the air.
The operator at that time explained that it wanted to start testing the flying cell on wheels (COW) immediately to prepare for the ongoing hurricane season. The grant is good from Sept. 10, 2018, to March 1, 2019.
Samsung, Nokia and Ericsson were identified as suppliers of the prototype equipment. T-Mobile explained that it would be flying the UAS at up to 400 feet above ground, but it would be attached by a tether to T-Mobile-operated buildings; the tether is to keep the UAS in place directly at the coordinates provided in the application and will also supply power to the UAS and the base station.
UAS systems already are being used by other carriers, including after disasters that damaged infrastructure on the ground. To help with relief efforts in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, AT&T deployed a flying COW in what it described as a first. That COW flew 200 feet above the ground. Verizon also has used drones to inspect towers after devastating storms in the Southeast.
Source: FierceWireless