For the race start and finish area, the operator used a micro mobile BTS connected via satellite connectivity. Directly above the running trail, T-Mobile deployed two drones from Primoco UAV operating from the airport in Písek. Using two aircraft enabled the team to test smooth alternation between them during the event, including refueling, and thus validate the concept for future 24/7 deployment.
A drone can cover an area of up to approximately 20 km². The solution was deployed in Brdy, a low-populated former military area where basic mobile coverage is available only along part of the race trail. Nearly 1,900 runners participated in the event. T-Mobile customers on site received stable connectivity, reaching speeds of up to 100 Mbit/s in a 10 MHz channel from a height of 2.3 kilometers.
“Connectivity is a critical layer of resilience. While we continue to strengthen our network and extend coverage into remote areas, situations exist where standard infrastructure is unavailable, limited, or temporarily disrupted. In Brdy, we demonstrated that drones equipped with a micro mobile base station can rapidly restore or extend mobile coverage in challenging terrain. This is more than a technical proof point - it shows our ability to deploy flexible, mission-critical connectivity where and when it is needed most, including emergency situations.” adds Carlos Fernandes, Chief Technology Officer at T-Mobile Czech Republic and Slovak Telekom.
„The solution works by having the drone carry a complete mobile base station that connects to the network core via satellite. The higher the antenna, the larger the area that can be covered and the more stable the signal becomes. Customers automatically connect to the best cell without needing to make any changes on their mobile phone. Mobile services can thus be temporarily enabled even in places where suitable fixed or microwave connectivity is unavailable," adds Jaroslav Holiš Research & Trials Senior Manager z Deutsche Telekom.
„Providing connectivity from the air is one of the key directions for developing our unmanned aircraft. Past experiences confirm that drones represent an exceptionally effective solution for quickly restoring or strengthening mobile signal. Besides sports and cultural events, we see great potential in crisis situations and natural disasters, when reliable communication is crucial. Last but not least, the full certification of our aircraft enables deployment with virtually no restrictions, which makes us unique," says Ladislav Semetkovský, Chairman of the Board of Primoco UAV.
T-Mobile previously commercially deployed a drone for the first time at the Jizerská 50 race, where it covered the race trail in the Jizerské Mountains with mobile signal within a single day.
During the entire series of Běhej lesy races, runners can again use Remobil recycling boxes to responsibly dispose of their old phones. Nearly 50 devices were collected at the last two races. The operator is committed to recycling throughout the year – collection boxes are also available at other events such as Jizerská 50 or Colours of Ostrava.