Satellite is the missing piece in unlocking commercial BVLOS operations

Commercial drone operations are poised to move beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), unlocking a new scale of industrial and public service applications. From infrastructure inspection to disaster response, the ability to maintain safe, reliable control over long distances is central to realizing this potential. Yet persistent gaps in connectivity remain the principal barrier to safe, scalable deployment.

By Alistair MacLeod, CEO, Ground Control

The turning point for UAVs

The development of BVLOS operations represents a turning point for unmanned aviation. It is the stage at which drones move from tactical, line of sight tools into scalable assets capable of supporting inspection, logistics, environmental monitoring, and emergency response at meaningful scale. While airframes, sensors, and autonomy software have advanced rapidly, connectivity continues to be the limiting factor.

Alistair MacLeod, CEO, Ground Control

Once a drone is beyond the operator’s line of sight, the communications link becomes safety critical. Regulators across jurisdictions, including EASA, the UK CAA and the FAA, consistently identify loss of command and control (C2) as one of the highest risks. In Europe, SORA methodology evaluates the consequences of a lost link as part of the safety case for BVLOS operations. Without redundancy, regulators are hesitant to grant permissions for extended operations.

Where terrestrial networks fall short

Terrestrial connectivity, whether LTE, 5G, or dedicated RF, has underpinned most UAV operations to date. In areas of strong coverage, these technologies provide reliable, low-latency performance. However, they are inherently limited by geography and infrastructure. Coverage gaps persist in rural and remote regions, while terrain, vegetation, and built environments can create unpredictable dead zones. Even in countries with dense networks, operational coverage can differ significantly from what is suggested on maps.

Many of the missions most suited to BVLOS take place precisely where terrestrial connectivity is weakest, including pipeline inspections spanning hundreds of kilometres across remote terrain, offshore windfarm surveys, high-voltage transmission line monitoring in sparsely populated regions, and post-disaster reconnaissance where terrestrial infrastructure is damaged or destroyed.

Relying on a single terrestrial system in such environments introduces unacceptable operational and regulatory risk.

The role of satellite in resilience

Satellite networks provide the missing layer. With near-global coverage, satellites extend connectivity into areas beyond terrestrial reach.

Both Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geostationary (GEO) satellites play a role. LEO systems (for example, Iridium) offer lower latency and typically better real-world availability for mobile, low-altitude operations around terrain, forests, and buildings, because multiple satellites pass at varying elevation angles. GEO can be very stable and economical when there’s a clear, unobstructed line of sight to the satellite and the mission allows a suitable terminal, but it can struggle where mountains, vegetation, or structures block the path. For most BVLOS drone operators, LEO will be the orbit height of choice, with GEO a useful option for specific mission profiles.

Satellite connectivity is particularly well suited to UAV requirements because it delivers reliable C2 and telemetry even in adverse conditions. While latency is higher than terrestrial networks, it remains within safe limits for C2 and telemetry, although it’s not ideal for very high-bandwidth needs like live HD video streaming.

The most effective model is not to replace terrestrial connectivity but to integrate it in a hybrid architecture. This creates dual resilience, ensuring one link is immediately available if the other fails. In practice, drones may rely on terrestrial networks as the primary channel in urban or suburban areas, while satellite automatically takes over in remote or obstructed environments. This redundancy is central to regulatory compliance and operational safety.

Regulatory expectations

Regulatory guidance increasingly reflects the need for dual-resilient connectivity. EASA explicitly recommends redundant systems in BVLOS operations, and the UK CAA highlights failover capability as a key consideration in safety assessments. The FAA, in evaluating waivers for extended operations, places heavy emphasis on lost-link mitigation and risk assessments that account for communication redundancy.

Regulators also emphasise monitoring and contingency planning. Risk mitigation measures may include automated safe-return protocols, geofencing to prevent drones entering restricted airspace during link loss, and integration with detect-and-avoid systems. Satellite links are increasingly viewed as essential in demonstrating compliance with these regulatory frameworks, particularly in remote or complex operational environments.

Safety, autonomy and continuity

Reliable connectivity underpins the wider safety case for BVLOS. It ensures drones always remain under positive control, that detect-and-avoid systems receive continuous surveillance data, and that emergency instructions such as return-to-home or forced landing can be executed immediately.

Looking further ahead, autonomy is the logical progression of BVLOS, but it remains an emerging field rather than a near-term certainty. Fully autonomous drones will only gain regulatory acceptance if operators can demonstrate that the aircraft can always be reached and controlled. Satellite provides the resilience necessary to build confidence and trust in these future systems without overpromising today.

Scaling up operations

Scalability is another critical advantage of hybrid connectivity. Many sectors driving BVLOS adoption operate over wide geographies. Energy companies need drones to inspect pipelines crossing remote regions. Utilities use UAVs to monitor high-voltage transmission lines that extend for hundreds of kilometres. Agricultural applications require drones to survey vast fields for crop health and irrigation efficiency. Emergency services deploy BVLOS drones to perform search and rescue or deliver supplies in disaster-hit regions. Without satellite connectivity, such missions would either be impossible or require artificial constraints, limiting operational effectiveness.

Hybrid architectures allow operators to plan missions with confidence that communication will remain uninterrupted, even over long distances or challenging terrain. This mirrors industries like maritime operations, where satellite has long been used for vessel tracking and safety, and industrial IoT, where remote sensors rely on satellite to stay connected.

Practical integration

Integrating satellite into UAV workflows requires careful system design. Equipment must be selected to balance size, weight, and power (SWaP) against mission requirements. Lightweight modules can provide emergency C2 and telemetry, while more advanced hardware may be needed for high-bandwidth applications such as live video streaming or complex sensor data.

Operators must clearly define which link is primary and how failover occurs. Automated switching is essential to avoid operational disruption. Designing around these parameters ensures satellite can serve as a reliable backup without compromising performance.

Real-world deployments show that hybrid architectures can be implemented with minimal operational complexity, integrating seamlessly into existing flight control and telemetry systems.

Addressing challenges

Some challenges remain. Certification processes for satellite-enabled systems tend to move more slowly than product development. Payload and power constraints limit adoption on smaller UAVs, and cost remains a factor for smaller operators. However, as satellite hardware continues to miniaturize and airtime costs decrease, barriers to entry are rapidly falling, making satellite more accessible to a wider range of UAV operations.

Future operational scenarios

Looking forward, reliance on hybrid connectivity will grow as BVLOS missions become more complex. In agriculture, fleets of drones could perform coordinated crop analysis and pesticide application across entire regions. In infrastructure, UAVs could carry out continuous inspection and maintenance monitoring over thousands of kilometres of pipelines, railways, and power grids. Emergency response operations will increasingly depend on drones for rapid deployment in regions affected by flooding, earthquakes or wildfires.

In each of these scenarios, reliable connectivity is essential not only for operational control but also for data security, integration with command centers, and compliance with airspace regulations. Satellites provide the resilience that allows these missions to be undertaken safely and at scale.

The missing piece in BVLOS is not airframes, sensors, or autonomy algorithms; it is connectivity. Without resilient, redundant communication links, BVLOS operations remain constrained in scope, geography and scale. With satellite integrated into hybrid architectures, the industry gains the resilience demanded by regulators, the safety required by operators, and the scalability needed for commercial viability.

Satellite ensures that drones are never out of reach, never out of contact, and never without a safe path home. With that assurance, BVLOS can move from limited trials to fully realized operational capability, supporting industrial, public service and societal applications at scale.