Verizon to offer drone data plans in US
Verizon is partnering with drone makers to allow the devices to connect to its internet network. The data plans would allow drones in flight to stream images, video or other real-time sensory data. Verizon said the service, called Airborne LTE Operations, or ALO, could be used to track wildfires, inspect oil pipelines or farming yields. The company also said the devices could be used as flying cell towers to "plug holes" in its network during emergencies. Regulation surrounding the use of drones is still highly restricted, but Verizon believes it is "uniquely positioned" to inform regulators.
Verizon will soon start offering data plans for drones, allowing pilots to connect their devices to the telecom's network to stream video and transmit other data to a computer or smartphone on the ground. The plans will start at 1GB for $25 a month and 10GB for $80 a month, according to The Wall Street Journal. While media transmission is one obvious use case, having working LTE mobile chips on drones could also in the future help companies pilot them remotely. Verizon says it expects commercial operations to be particularly interested in its drone data plans, including industries like energy, agriculture, and nature and wildlife preservation. Verizon will also test drones as aerial cell towers to patch holes in its network coverage.

As it stands today, most drones use public airwaves to communicate with a traditional remote control, which is then tethered either with a wire or by Bluetooth to a device with an internet connection. This is how video or photographs are typically transmitted live, while onboard action cams from GoPro and other manufacturers let drone pilots record media and retrieve it later. With a Verizon data plan, drones could be connected to the network directly and bypass the need to communicate with on-the-ground devices. For companies with delivery ambitions, like Amazon and Google, this could be especially important as ferrying packages requires pilots to operate the drones remotely and without a line of sight.

Verizon has named its new drone business Airborne LTE Operations, or ALO