This undated image, provided by the arms procurement agency on May 17, 2021, shows a hydrogen-powered drone under operation above waters.
SEOUL, March 4 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea plans to develop new communications technology for drones that will extend their flight altitude to up to 20,000 meters. Currently, issues with communication limit drone flights to altitudes below 1,000 meters.
The Ministry of Science and ICT said Thursday that it will initiate the development of a new, 433 megahertz (MHz)-based drone communication technology led by a consortium of developers.
The consortium will be comprised of eight companies and four universities including Kwangwoon University and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).
While 4G and 5G networks have no limitations on coverage distance, a communications system that uses 2.4 or 5 gigahertz (GHz) radio frequencies is incapable of transmitting at an altitude above 1,000 meters, precenting drones from flying longer distances.
The government plans to resolve this limitation by introducing a 433 MHz bandwidth combined with 5G network, which is expected to enable drones to fly at altitudes up to 20,000 meters.
The consortium will spend the next five years developing 433 MHz-based communication technology and system-on-chip (SoC).
It also plans to hold a series of demonstrations to verify long-distance flight capabilities for drone use in marine management, quarantine, shipping and non-visible flight, for which it will develop technology to share the use of frequencies and design standards for wireless services.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
