Enabling Rapid Deployment of Communication Coverage in Dead Zones During Disasters and Other Emergencies
Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
University of Oulu
Overview
The Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo (Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; Dean: Kohei Tsumoto; Professor Akihiro Nakao, Nakao Laboratory; hereinafter “The University of Tokyo”) and the University of Oulu (Oulu, Republic of Finland; Rector: Arto Maaninen; hereinafter “the University of Oulu”) have successfully demonstrated a drone carrying its own local 5G base station, showing that mobile communications can be restored rapidly in disaster zones and other areas where ground-based infrastructure has failed.
The proof-of-concept trial took place at OuluZone(Note 1), an experimental wireless environment in Oulu, Finland. The team confirmed stable mobile coverage from an airborne platform at varying flight altitudes, and validated the system's performance in simulated disaster and emergency scenarios.
Fig. 1. Demonstration of a Drone-Mounted Local 5G Base Station
This research was initiated under a collaborative framework involving Vice Rector for Research, Professor Matti Latva-aho of the University of Oulu, who serves as a Global Fellow at The University of Tokyo, and was launched following discussions at an international symposium held in the Mount Fuji region last year.
Presentation Content
1. Background and Motivation
Based on a collaboration agreement with the University of Oulu (Note 2), The University of Tokyo has been promoting international joint research in next-generation wireless communications. In particular, with Professor Matti Latva-aho of the University of Oulu serving as a Global Fellow at The University of Tokyo, a research framework has been established for advanced communication technologies with a view toward 6G.
This research was initiated following an international symposium held in the Mount Fuji region last year (Note 3). At the symposium, the concept of equipping drones with base station functionality was proposed as a new approach to rapidly securing communication coverage in dead zones where communication infrastructure may be unavailable during disasters and other emergencies. In particular, in mountainous regions and disaster-stricken areas immediately after an event, the need for flexible communication methods independent of existing infrastructure has been strongly recognized.
2. Overview of the Proposed Method
The drone integrates a compact local 5G base station with satellite communications equipment, enabling it to establish an aerial coverage zone and connect ground-level users to external networks without relying on any fixed infrastructure below.
In this research, a system was designed in which a drone carries a local 5G base station integrated with satellite communication equipment. The system enables the drone to flexibly establish communication coverage from the air and rapidly deploy a communication environment. In addition, by using satellite communications for connection to external networks, the system enables communication with remote locations and internet connectivity, contributing to faster information sharing and situational awareness during emergencies. This is expected to enable rapid establishment of communication environments even in areas with limited infrastructure, such as disaster zones and mountainous regions, thereby facilitating smooth communication between on-site users and remote support locations.
Fig. 2. Drone-mounted 5G base station brings connectivity where most needed.
3. Demonstration Experiment and Results
To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, demonstration experiments were conducted at OuluZone, an experimental test environment located in Oulu, Finland. In collaboration with the University of Oulu, the research team established a test environment using a drone-mounted local 5G base station and evaluated its ability to rapidly and flexibly deploy communication coverage. Conducting such an initiative in Japan would require considerable time for coordination and alignment processes with existing frameworks, and OuluZone provided a valuable opportunity to carry out live transmission trials in the 4.8 GHz band under real-world conditions. This flexible experimental environment significantly accelerated research progress.
In the experiment, a communication coverage area was established over a kart racing track spanning approximately 330 meters using the drone-mounted local 5G base station. For comparison, a ground-based base station and antenna system were also deployed to evaluate differences in coverage characteristics and communication quality.
The results confirmed that the drone-based system could flexibly establish communication coverage with fewer constraints from terrain and deployment conditions. In addition, transmitting radio signals from an elevated position enabled broader and more efficient area coverage. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in real-world environments where rapid deployment of communication infrastructure is required, including disaster response situations and areas lacking existing network infrastructure.
4. Comments from Representatives of Both Universities
“Technologies capable of rapidly deploying communication infrastructure whenever and wherever it is needed are indispensable to the realization of next-generation cyber infrastructure. Through our international collaboration with the University of Oulu, we were able to take advantage of the OuluZone experimental environment to conduct an early demonstration of a drone-mounted local 5G base station — an initiative that would require considerable time for consensus building in Japan. This demonstration verified the potential of drone-based local 5G networks, operated as dedicated high-quality wireless infrastructure, to flexibly and efficiently establish communication coverage in areas where conventional networks are unavailable. We believe this achievement represents an important step toward strengthening future disaster response capabilities and building resilient next-generation communication infrastructure. Looking ahead, we will continue to advance research and development of integrated cyber infrastructure that seamlessly connects aerial, terrestrial, and satellite networks, while accelerating the translation of these technologies into practical social implementation,” says Professor Akihiro Nakao, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo.
"Working with the University of Tokyo team gave us a chance to test something genuinely useful in a real environment. OuluZone made it possible to do the radio trials that Japan's regulations currently don't allow, and the results showed the system can deliver stable coverage from the air," says Vice Rector for Research, Professor Matti Latva-aho of the University of Oulu.
5. Social Significance and Future Outlook
This technology is expected to be utilized for the rapid restoration of communication infrastructure immediately after disasters, as well as a temporary means of securing communications in dead zones such as mountainous regions and remote islands. Going forward, while taking into account developments in Japan’s regulatory framework, further improvements to the system and studies on operational methods will be pursued toward social implementation, along with verification based on specific use scenarios. Through international collaboration, the project will also contribute to the social implementation of next-generation mobile communication technologies.
Research Funding
This work was partly supported by JST ASPIRE Grant Number JPM-JAP2323, Japan.
Notes
Note 1: OuluZone
OuluZone is an outdoor experimental test field located in Oulu, Finland. It serves as a real-world testing platform where technologies related to wireless communications and smart cities can be validated.
https://oulu.com/en/smartcityoulu/platforms/OuluZone-2/
Note 2: Collaboration Agreement with the University of Oulu, Finland
This is an academic collaboration agreement concluded on February 2, 2023, between the University of Oulu and the University of Tokyo. It aims to promote joint research in a wide range of fields, including ICT (such as 6G), as well as researcher and student exchanges and industry–academia collaboration.
https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/focus/ja/articles/z0104_01041.html
Note 3: Mt. Fuji Symposium
The Mt. Fuji Symposium was held on November 21 and 22, 2024, focusing on information and communication infrastructure (cyber lifelines) that support future societies. Participants from industry, government, and academia presented research results and engaged in discussions.