According to Nikkei, the Japanese government will lift the ban on drone access to high-speed 5G wireless networks in fiscal 2024, allowing higher resolution images for disaster relief and infrastructure inspections.

Thanks to the ability to send and receive large amounts of data in real time with 5G, drones will be able to transmit high-resolution 4K video and other images. Currently, 5G-enabled devices are prohibited from being used in airspace. The government plans to review regulations to allow such uses of drones.

In case of a natural disaster, drones that transmit high-resolution images will help quickly determine the extent of flooding or damage to buildings. When inspecting infrastructure, drone images can reveal small cracks and other problems in hard-to-reach places like steel towers and mountainous areas.

Another application is broadcasting high-resolution aerial images during outdoor sporting events such as golf.

When a drone uses the 5G network, it transmits signals through unobstructed airspace, which can interfere with regular mobile phones and cause communication problems. The government plans to develop a method to prevent interference by narrowing the frequency ranges and power of radio waves for the use of drones.

Companies are already using drones in a wide variety of areas. Kao will conduct field trials in Hyogo Prefecture and other locations to carry long-distance cargo of 50 kg or more, targeting sparsely populated areas.

According to YH Research, the global 5G-enabled drone market will grow from $120 million in 2022 to $697 million in 2025. This figure is expected to reach 2.23 billion dollars in 2029.

It is also hoped that drones can be used to improve delivery efficiency. Shingo Maeda, director of the Association for the Promotion of Drone Services, noted that “in the future, the use of 5G will be safer if many drones can be remotely controlled at the same time.”