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StatusOngoing
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Status date2025-12-01
- To deliver a prototype of a 5G and satellite communications-enabled device that secures UAV communications, including Remote ID, authentication and encryption.
- To secure C2 communications on satellite and terrestrial 5G networks
- Seamlessly maintain security during switchover between terrestrial and satellite 5G networks.
Drone communications put specific constraints on the Size Weight and Power (SWaP) requirements of the communication terminal, along with requirements for latencies and bandwidths of the communication channel.
There is a trade-off between 5G/Satcom switching time vs performance.
There are restrictive regulations to overcome during the pathway to market.
Our market research on the targeted product projects a Total Available Market (TAM) of €1.4Bn in 2022, a Serviceable Available Market (SAM) of €1.1Bn and a SOM (Serviceable Obtainable Market) of €2.2Bn in 2027, growing to €97Mn by 2032.
On the competitive landscape, this is ‘New’ technology as there is no existing drone communications product that combines 5G terrestrial and satellite communications capabilities. This is more robust hardware-based Zero-trust technology that can be ported to other verticals, such as other mobility areas including maritime, rail and driverless road vehicles.
With our technology we can become market leaders in the satellite communications for drone mass market.
Our product is a Ground Segment hardware and software module. It is an extension of the "Ranger-2” device being developed for terrestrial 5G drone communications that already includes a 5G modem certified by project partner BT. Further components will be integrated into the "Ranger-2” to provide SatCom capability and the ability to seamlessly maintain security during handovers between terrestrial and satellite 5G networks.
The device will be mounted on a drone and tested in flight in scenarios representative of real-life use cases, in particular to secure uninterrupted connectivity in areas of poor terrestrial 5G coverage, over a wide geographical area or at critical sites, where connection redundancy is needed in case of loss of terrestrial coverage or any other communications failure.
Our product addresses UAV communication security against cyberattacks, including tamper-resistant device identity, message authentication and encryption as well as key management, providing resilient end-to-end security.
The architecture comprises a drone flying with a secure C2 link to a 5G land-based network, and a secure L-band satellite link, with the connectivity seamlessly transferring to the satellite link when 5G connectivity is degraded or lost.
The drone will be retrofitted with Angoka's ‘Ranger’ device with a 5G modem, and a satellite terminal connected to the satellite communications network. The Ranger will also be capable of connecting to 5G NSA.
On power-up, the Angoka Ranger will establish independent bearers over the 5G and satellite communications networks, with the 5G bearer anchored to the Next Generation Node B and the satellite communications bearer anchored to the Ground Control Station. Both cellular and satellite communications bearers will provide connectivity to the internet.
The connection from the drone to the GCS must always be outbound – the drone will not have a public IP address on either the cellular or satellite connection. The Ranger will monitor connection quality, and switch to the most appropriate bearer for the conditions, defaulting to the 5G bearer over satellite due to cost and performance.
The project duration is 18 months, and has three phases, each with at least one milestone. They are:
- Kick-Off Meeting (KOM): 29 January 2024
- Design Phase: 10/01/2024 – 25 June 2024
- Preliminary Design Review (PDR): 14 June 2024
- Critical Design Review (CDR): 18 November 2024
- Verification Phase 19 November 2024 - 24 May 2025
- Test Readiness Review (TRR): 24 April 2025
- Validation Phase: 25/04/2025 – 03 July 2025
- Final Review (FR): 03 July 2025
The project was kicked-off on 10 January 2024 with the close out meeting held on 20 November 2025. All key milestones (Preliminary Design Review-PDR, Critical Design Review-CDR, Test Readiness Review-TRR and Final Review-FR) were fulfilled to plan and project expectations.
The outcome has multiple significant achievements including:
- Successful development of a satellite communications-enabled Ranger pre-production prototype (Ranger-S), the first UK and European sovereign product that that combines terrestrial and satellite communications
- Successful deployment of the Angoka ZAP secure protocol over 5G and satellite communications networks for the protection of high-availability UAV telemetry and C2 data streams under challenging network conditions of high latency and restricted bandwidth.
- Angoka ZAP protocol capable of operating over a Multipath TCP connection, securing end-to-end messaging between the UAV and Ground Control Station, and securing failover switching between the 5G and satellite communications networks.
- Successful flight trial flying on 5G connectivity, Satellite communications connectivity and secure switchover between the two modes of communication.
- Built important relationships with some of the key players in terrestrial (BT) and satellite (Gotonom,iViasat).
- Exploitation of the technology through the sale of this solution to a search and rescue organisation in Belfast (Skywatch)
The project will continue into a product phase under a Contract Change Notice, planned to commence in Q1 2026.
