en.Wedoany.com Reported - AT&T and Ericsson jointly demonstrated drone detection technology based on 5G networks in licensed airspace outside AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The demonstration utilized Ericsson's Massive MIMO radios to deploy multi-static sensing configurations across multiple sites, combining advanced signal processing and AI-based sensing algorithms to achieve real-time detection, localization, and continuous tracking of drone targets.

During the demonstration, multiple drones flying at altitudes between 300 and 400 feet were successfully detected. The system integrated observation data from synchronized sensing nodes to provide enhanced detection reliability, improved positioning accuracy, and robust target tracking performance. The technology generated real-time target metrics including position, velocity, and altitude, enabling full-flight tracking and monitoring. The radio signals used are typically employed for communications, and this demonstration showed that existing cellular base stations can simultaneously achieve real-time environmental sensing without the need for additional standalone sensing equipment.

This demonstration is part of AT&T and Ericsson's exploration into integrated sensing and communications, showcasing that capabilities often associated with future 6G systems are already achievable on current 5G networks. Dyon Agnew, Senior Vice President and Head of AT&T Customer Unit at Ericsson Americas, stated that the demonstration illustrates a practical product path using 5G capabilities as early building blocks on the roadmap to 6G. Yigal Elbaz, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Network at AT&T, noted that this collaboration helps explore how to add sensing capabilities to connectivity through existing networks to support safer operations, smarter venues, and enhanced customer experiences.

This demonstration highlights the potential for existing network infrastructure to transform into distributed sensing platforms, supporting applications such as drone detection without requiring additional standalone sensing systems. AT&T and Ericsson stated they will continue to explore ways to introduce sensing capabilities into existing networks, evolving gradually as standards, ecosystems, and market demands develop, to shape a practical path that enables future 6G capabilities to deliver value before full commercialization.