Telefónica enables 5G communication between drones and Smart Cities

This project entails communication between multiple drones in mid-air and various interconnected urban elements for the successful delivery of a package to its designated mobile collection point. It combines multiple technologies - including 5G, C-V2X communications (the same technology employed in modern connected cars), RTK technology, and mobile location. This proposal, a part of Telefónica's 5G Madrid project, has been made possible by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation through Red.es with co-financing from FEDER funds under the established call for 5G grants. To ensure the success of this project, Telefónica has partnered with Correos as their use case recipient and also teamed up with Gradiant, Ericsson, and Genasys.
Telefónica enables 5G communication between drones and Smart Cities
Image Credit: Telefonica

Telefónica has pioneered the utilization of 5G-connected drone air traffic control for package delivery in Spain, opening up a new realm of possibilities.


The primary goal of this project is to assess how 5G networks can accelerate the development and integration of drone services within urban settings. For this, Telefonica is using C-V2X (connected car) and RTK technologies for precise location.

This use case will be showcased in the presentation ‘Drones 5G, Present and Future’, which will take place on February 28th at 1 PM in Agora stand, with which Telefónica will collaborate at Mobile World Congress 2023.

Correos, a pioneering company committed to discovering new solutions for transporting goods via drones that can access hard-to-reach areas or even offer unique services, has been essential in the development of this project. The pilot includes the flight of various connected drones interacting with different urban elements through their journey to transport packages efficiently while avoiding restricted airspace zones.

The Telefónica 5G Madrid proposal is being supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation through Red.es, as part of a call for grants to promote innovation in 5G in Spain with FEDER funds co-financing this project.

To achieve this, Telefónica has relied on Gradiant to develop a smart cooperative communication system (based on 5G and C-V2X), implement the solution that provides accurate locations, and integrate these technologies into drones and other Smart City components.

Ericsson has conducted research to better understand the implications of 5G on location services and collaborated with Genasys, a specialist in Location Based Services (LBS) and critical emergency communications, to get precise information from its existing commercial mobile networks.

Use cases implemented with the pilot

Specifically, the use cases implemented are:

  • Traffic coordination between two drones: With the help of two drones, a potential collision can be avoided by detecting and intercepting one another’s flight path. When both are in imminent danger of crashing into each other, one stops while the other continues on its trajectory. This efficient traffic coordination prevents any catastrophe from occurring and allows both machines to resume their previously planned missions.
  • Warning for prohibited areas: A beacon on the ground has been set up to mark restricted zones and will perpetually relay its location. When a drone detects that it is entering this area, it quickly veers away from this region and continues its trajectory in an alternate route.
  • Package delivery at a mobile delivery point: With a mobile delivery point, the beacon is connected in such a way that it transmits its location at regular intervals. This allows drones to have pinpoint accuracy when landing and delivering packages.

This, combined with an air control platform that tracks and displays the location of all connected drones and beacons and data of participants present, makes it possible to monitor communication messages transmitted in real-time.

In order to make this pilot operational, it has been essential to combine a multitude of technologies such as 5G networking, C-V2X communications (the same ones employed in the linked car), Real Time Kinematics technology, and mobile localization.

5G technology,, with its ultra-low latency and high bandwidth capability, is paramount for the development of drone-based operations. This is because instantaneous communication between drones and other connected objects relies on these low latencies.

C-V2X technology, utilized in vehicular communications, has unlocked the drone’s capacity to interact with its surroundings through short-range messages. By connecting and conversing with a Smart City environment, drones can react intelligently and quickly adjust to changes.

The power of RTK technology (Real Time Kinematic or real-time kinetic satellite navigation) is instrumental in providing exact accuracy, with centimeter margins of error. This makes it indispensable for operations such as the navigational landing of drones into mobile mailboxes.

In addition to all this, the 5G location service provides invaluable information such as positioning and exact distance from the antenna. This is a critical, independent source compared to GNSS for accurately gauging drone position and ensuring it remains secure.

Leonor Ostos, the Innovation Manager at Telefonica Spain, states that this innovative use case is derived from a future need. Drones have an array of potential applications in both businesses and everyday life–such as the delivery of products, photography, search and rescue operations, agriculture assessment, engineering inspections, 3D mapping activities, monitoring projects, environmental protection duties, recreational flights, etc.

Drones need powerful communication networks to operate and transmit data in real time. This project explores the potential of air control systems and drone communications, unlocking a new reality that we foresee within the near future.

Maria Dolores Climent, leading the Correos Strategy area, is confident in their abilities: “After more than three centuries of experience and progress, Correos has remained agile to remain current on all times. We’re continuously looking for modern innovations that positively impact our logistics chain- new technology plays a major role in this aim.”


Recent Content

Batelco by Beyon and Nokia are partnering to launch Bahrain’s first private 5G network at Aluminum Bahrain (Alba). The network will drive smart manufacturing through real-time monitoring, automation, and AI-driven analytics—paving the way for Alba’s digital transformation and advancing Bahrain’s Industry 4.0 strategy.
Rakuten Mobile and AST SpaceMobile completed Japan’s first satellite video call using unmodified smartphones in April 2025. This test marks a major advancement toward Rakuten’s Saikyo Satellite Service, set to launch in 2026, which will expand mobile coverage across remote and disaster-prone regions using AST’s LEO satellite network.
Verizon posted better-than-expected Q1 2025 earnings, with revenue and profits rising. But a record loss of 289,000 postpaid phone subscribers sent the stock down, as investors focused more on churn than cash flow. While prepaid gains and stable guidance offered some optimism, analysts remain cautious about Verizon’s subscriber strategy and pricing pressure.
President Trump’s executive order to modernize environmental permitting may streamline U.S. infrastructure projects—but it notably omits telecom and broadband. Industry experts say pole attachments, state permitting rules, and access to federal lands remain critical hurdles. While the order could bring indirect benefits, real telecom reform still requires sector-specific solutions.
Airtel has acquired 400 MHz of 26 GHz mmWave spectrum from Adani Data Networks, a move that strengthens its high-speed 5G offerings in urban and enterprise zones. The deal enhances Airtel’s ability to scale fixed wireless access, industrial 5G networks, and high-bandwidth consumer services. With India’s spectrum demand surging, this acquisition underscores the critical role of efficient spectrum use and signals a new phase of telecom consolidation.
Whitepaper
Telecom networks are facing unprecedented complexity with 5G, IoT, and cloud services. Traditional service assurance methods are becoming obsolete, making AI-driven, real-time analytics essential for competitive advantage. This independent industry whitepaper explores how DPUs, GPUs, and Generative AI (GenAI) are enabling predictive automation, reducing operational costs, and improving service quality....
Whitepaper
Explore the collaboration between Purdue Research Foundation, Purdue University, Ericsson, and Saab at the Aviation Innovation Hub. Discover how private 5G networks, real-time analytics, and sustainable innovations are shaping the "Airport of the Future" for a smarter, safer, and greener aviation industry....
Article & Insights
This article explores the deployment of 5G NR Transparent Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs), detailing the architecture's advantages and challenges. It highlights how this "bent-pipe" NTN approach integrates ground-based gNodeB components with NGSO satellite constellations to expand global connectivity. Key challenges like moving beam management, interference mitigation, and latency are discussed, underscoring...

Download Magazine

With Subscription

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Scroll to Top