Rogue drones face new radar defences at UK airports
Key Points
- Ofcom has proposed a new drone detection radar licence for airports, prisons and power stations
- The regulator wants views on whether the 24 GHz and 16 GHz spectrum bands meet detection needs
- Drones would gain interim access to the 450 MHz and 5030 to 5091 MHz bands for wider services
- Amazon drone deliveries, NHS blood trials and Royal Mail flights already operate under Ofcom licences
- The consultation closes on 30 September
Ofcom has proposed a new radar licence to help airports, prisons and power stations detect hostile drones earlier, alongside plans to open more airwaves for legitimate drone services.
The regulator, which controls the airwaves that wireless devices across the UK rely upon, announced the plans on Thursday (16 July). The proposed drone detection radar licence would let organisations upgrade their technology for spotting malicious drone activity, including unauthorised surveillance over sensitive sites.
Drone incursions carry serious consequences for consumers.
Disruptions at airports have caused thousands of cancelled flights, leaving passengers stranded and out of pocket. Better detection technology should reduce the risk of a repeat, catching threats before they force a runway to close.
Ofcom wants organisations to say whether two new bands of spectrum, the 24 GHz and 16 GHz bands, will meet the demand for more radar detection technology. The regulator has set a deadline of 30 September for responses to its consultation.
More airwaves for deliveries and NHS services
Alongside the security measures, Ofcom plans to free up extra wireless capacity so more drones can operate safely over longer distances.
The regulator has proposed giving drones access to two additional spectrum bands, 450 MHz and 5030 to 5091 MHz, for an interim period alongside existing users. It also wants views on longer term spectrum solutions as drone use grows.
The changes would support services that already reach UK consumers. Ofcom recently licensed Amazon to use the spectrum needed for its first drone parcel deliveries in the Darlington area, making the UK the only market outside the US where the service operates.
Drones have also carried blood for the NHS in trials across London and Northumbria, and delivered Royal Mail post in the Orkney Islands.
Nina Percival, Director of Space Spectrum and Authorisation Policy at Ofcom, said drones serve a growing range of innovative purposes in British skies but can also serve malicious ones.
“That’s why we plan to open up the airwaves to support safe drone use and also help organisations protect themselves,” she said.
Percival added that drones represent just one example of wireless innovation, and Ofcom wants UK researchers and industry to say what else it can do to help them develop new technologies.
The regulator is seeking input on how the UK’s spectrum framework can evolve to make it easier to develop, test and deploy new wireless technology while balancing the needs of existing users.
Responsibility for drones splits between two regulators. The Civil Aviation Authority sets the rules for how and under what conditions drones may fly, while Ofcom authorises the radiocommunications equipment used on drone units and for drone detection.
