Globalstar's Private 5G Forges New Path for Skydio Drones

COVINGTON, LA – December 16, 2025 – A landmark technology trial has successfully demonstrated a new, private wireless superhighway for autonomous drones, promising to overcome the connectivity hurdles that have long constrained their use in critical missions. Telecommunications provider Globalstar and leading U.S. drone manufacturer Skydio have completed the first flight of a Skydio X10 drone operating on Globalstar’s licensed Band n53 spectrum and its XCOM RAN private 5G platform.

The successful test validates a powerful new connectivity option for drones that operates independently of congested public cellular networks and short-range Wi-Fi. By creating a secure, high-performance data link, the collaboration aims to unlock the full potential of autonomous drones for public safety, critical infrastructure inspection, and industrial automation, especially for operations that extend beyond the pilot's visual line of sight.

A Private Highway in the Sky

For years, the widespread adoption of advanced drone operations has been hampered by a fundamental challenge: reliable connectivity. Drones operating in mission-critical scenarios rely on a constant stream of data for command, control, and high-definition video feeds. Traditional Wi-Fi networks offer limited range, while public cellular networks, though widespread, can suffer from unpredictable performance, congestion, and potential dead zones, particularly in dense urban or remote rural environments.

This trial introduces a purpose-built solution to this problem. Globalstar’s Band n53 is a licensed spectrum, meaning the company holds exclusive rights to its use. Unlike shared spectrum used by Wi-Fi or public 5G, this creates a private, interference-free channel dedicated solely to the user's devices. This predictability is paramount for applications where a dropped connection is not an option.

Powering this private channel is Globalstar's XCOM RAN, a next-generation private 5G platform designed specifically for high-stakes industrial environments. The system delivers what engineers call "deterministic performance"—a network that behaves in a consistent and predictable manner, ensuring commands are executed without delay. It also boasts significantly higher uplink throughput, a critical feature for drones that must transmit large amounts of video and sensor data back to an operator.

A key innovation within XCOM RAN is its "Supercell architecture." In traditional cellular networks, a moving device like a drone must "hand off" between different cell towers, a process that can introduce latency or even a momentary loss of connection. The Supercell architecture eliminates these handoffs entirely within the deployed area, creating a single, seamless coverage bubble that ensures uninterrupted connectivity as the drone moves through its mission.

Powering the Future of First Responders

Nowhere is the need for this level of reliability more acute than in public safety. Skydio has become a dominant force in this sector, with its autonomous drones deployed in over 1,000 public safety agencies across the United States. These agencies are increasingly adopting "Drone as First Responder" (DFR) programs, where drones are launched remotely to provide critical situational awareness at emergency scenes before ground units arrive.

The Globalstar-Skydio solution directly enhances the DFR model. It enables an officer at a command center to securely launch and pilot a drone miles away, streaming clear, uninterrupted video of a developing situation—be it a fire, a search and rescue operation, or a dangerous standoff—without fearing a connection loss due to network congestion. This real-time intelligence allows for better resource allocation, improved officer safety, and can help de-escalate volatile situations.

"Skydio is one of the most innovative drone companies in the world and their public safety mission requires the most reliable connectivity possible," said Globalstar CEO Dr. Paul E. Jacobs in a statement. "This trial highlights the strength of Band n53 and the XCOM RAN architecture for high performance uplink applications like autonomous drones. We are proud to support a future where first responders have the tools they need to move faster and stay safer.”

The ease of integration was also a key factor. "One of the biggest advantages in this trial was how quickly we were able to integrate Band n53 using an existing module already supported within Globalstar’s ecosystem,” noted Skydio CTO Abe Bachrach. "It allowed us to move fast and begin real-world testing very quickly."

Beyond Public Safety: Unlocking Industrial Automation

While public safety represents a primary use case, the implications of this technology extend across the industrial landscape. The same need for robust, secure connectivity exists for inspecting vast and often remote critical infrastructure. Energy utilities can use these drones to inspect hundreds of miles of power lines, oil and gas companies can monitor pipelines for leaks, and transportation departments can assess the structural integrity of bridges, all with greater efficiency and safety than manual methods.

In logistics and warehousing, a private 5G network can serve as the central nervous system for a fleet of autonomous drones and ground robots, coordinating inventory management, site security, and logistics without interruption. Skydio’s existing Remote Ops software, which allows drones to be deployed and operated from anywhere via a web browser, becomes significantly more powerful when paired with a dedicated, high-performance network that guarantees a stable connection.

This partnership represents a strategic push by Globalstar to monetize its unique spectrum assets by targeting the burgeoning market for private wireless networks. For Skydio, it provides a powerful competitive differentiator, offering its customers a turnkey solution for the most demanding operational environments.

Navigating the Regulatory and Competitive Airspace

The timing of this technological validation is critical, as it aligns with a major pending shift in aviation regulations. Currently, most drone operations in the U.S. are restricted to the pilot's visual line of sight (VLOS). Operating Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) requires a complex and often costly waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

However, the FAA is under a federal mandate to establish a clear framework for routine BVLOS operations by September 2025. These forthcoming regulations, expected under a new Part 108 rule, will unlock countless commercial applications, from long-distance infrastructure inspection to package delivery. A core requirement for gaining FAA approval for these advanced flights will be demonstrating an exceptionally reliable and secure command-and-control link. A private, licensed 5G network like the one tested by Globalstar and Skydio is precisely the type of solution that can meet these stringent safety standards.

In a competitive field that includes satellite solutions like Starlink and Inmarsat for remote areas and enhanced public 5G offerings from major carriers, the Globalstar-Skydio partnership carves out a distinct and valuable niche. It is optimized for localized, high-density, and mission-critical deployments where security, low latency, and guaranteed performance are non-negotiable. As regulations evolve to permit more complex autonomous flights, the demand for such robust, private drone highways is set to accelerate dramatically.