GSMA Issues Joint Requirements Statement Calling Industry to Build Electronic Conspicuity Services for Drones and eVTOL
The GSMA has released the industry's first Joint Requirements Statement (JRS) developed through its Fusion programme, convening telecoms, aviation, security, and drone operators to define how mobile networks and programmable network functions can deliver safe, trusted, and scalable Electronic Conspicuity (EC) services for drones and eVTOL aircraft. Founding signatories include the UK's NCSC, Ericsson, Nokia, NextNav, and Viasat, among others.
Highlights
- The GSMA published the industry's first Joint Requirements Statement (JRS) via its Fusion programme to define Electronic Conspicuity (EC) standards for drones and eVTOL aircraft.
- Nine founding signatories joined the JRS, including the UK NCSC, Ericsson, Nokia, NextNav, and Viasat.
- The JRS identifies eight strategic capabilities mobile networks must provide for low-altitude aviation, including trusted identity verification, secure geolocation, and cross-border interoperability.
- The GSMA warns that without coordinated action, incompatible national drone conspicuity frameworks risk becoming entrenched before a global standard is agreed.
- Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) are highlighted as a critical resilience layer for drone operations in remote, maritime, and disaster-recovery scenarios where terrestrial coverage is insufficient.
GSMA Launches Industry Call to Action for Drone and eVTOL Electronic Conspicuity Standards
The GSMA, the global trade body representing mobile network operators, has announced what it describes as an industry-first call to action aimed at "bringing together leaders from telecoms, aviation, security, and drone operations to shape a safer future for drone airspace."
The Joint Requirements Statement (JRS)
Developed under the GSMA Fusion programme, the Joint Requirements Statement (JRS) sets out how mobile networks and programmable network functions can support safe, trusted, and scalable drone operations in a growing market—with Electronic Conspicuity (EC) at the centre of the framework.
Founding contributors and signatories include: the UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), BCN Drone Center, Dimetor, Ericsson, Invicsa, NextNav, Nokia, Shabodi, and Viasat.
What Is Electronic Conspicuity?
According to the GSMA, "Electronic Conspicuity (EC) refers to the ability of an aircraft or drone to be electronically identified and recognised by other airspace users and authorities." The technology enables real-time sharing of position, altitude, heading, speed, and identity data to improve situational awareness and flight safety.
The JRS document emphasises that alignment on these requirements is becoming increasingly urgent as governments, regulators, and aviation authorities accelerate development in areas including Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, drone first-responder programmes, autonomous aerial systems, and future passenger-carrying eVTOL vehicles.
A Critical Moment to Prevent Standards Fragmentation
The group warns that without early coordination, there is a significant risk of fragmented, incompatible national approaches to drone conspicuity, identification, and connectivity becoming entrenched before a globally interoperable framework can be established.
The Strategic Role of Mobile Networks
The JRS outlines how mobile networks can evolve from simple connectivity providers into a strategic foundation for trusted low-altitude aviation. Key capabilities identified include:
- Trusted identity authentication and verification
- Secure positioning and geolocation
- Real-time telemetry data assurance
- Priority connectivity for safety-critical missions
- Auditable network-backed data flows
- Cross-border interoperability
- Scalable support for high-density drone operations
- Resilient multi-layer connectivity via terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), helping maintain operational continuity beyond traditional coverage areas
Programmable Networks and Non-Terrestrial Networks
The coalition also outlines the role that programmable network functions and APIs—including the GSMA Open Gateway and CAMARA-compliant frameworks—can play in supporting future aviation safety, security, and operational efficiency requirements.
The group further highlights Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) as a critical resilience layer for future drone operations, particularly in remote areas, maritime applications, disaster recovery, and national security missions where terrestrial network coverage alone may be insufficient.
For more information, visit: www.gsma.com
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
原文來源： 查看原文
