Why satellite connectivity is vital for safe BVLOS drone operations
Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) refers to drone operations conducted at distances where the pilot cannot maintain direct visual contact with the aircraft. This capability is transformative for commercial UAVs (uncrewed aerial vehicles), enabling drones to cover greater distances and perform missions over large areas. BVLOS unlocks applications like long-range infrastructure inspection, wide-area surveillance, and remote delivery. However, operating this way comes with safety and regulatory challenges – foremost among them is maintaining a reliable communications link at all times. Losing command-and-control (C2) at distance has potentially severe consequences, making always-available connectivity an important requirement for safe BVLOS flight.
Regulatory and safety imperatives for connectivity
A continuous, fail-safe comms link between UAV and operator will inevitably be a key demand from aviation regulators for BVLOS operations. Regulators like the U.S. FAA currently require operators to obtain special waivers to fly BVLOS (14 CFR Part 107), and to demonstrate that the operation can be conducted safely with minimal risk (faa.gov) This includes having reliable command-and-control links and contingency plans for link loss. In practice, that means BVLOS drones must be equipped with communication systems that have redundancy and high availability. If the primary link fails, a backup needs to take over to avoid loss of control. In Europe, similar expectations are outlined under the Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) guidelines, where any BVLOS operation must assure a reliable link for the drone’s telemetry and control.
Safety considerations also drive the need for continuous connectivity. A drone flying BVLOS may be integrated into shared airspace, so it must respond to dynamic air traffic or no-fly zones. Real-time telemetry (position, speed, health status) and potentially remote ID must be broadcast and accessible. In an emergency, the remote pilot or automated system should be able to command the drone to safely land or return home, which again hinges on an active link. Overall, regulators insist on communication links that are ultra-reliable and resilient to failures, making connectivity a cornerstone of BVLOS safety.
Connectivity options for BVLOS: terrestrial vs satellite links
Many drones today rely on terrestrial links such as point-to-point radios or cellular networks (e.g. LTE/5G) for command, control and data. These are often sufficient for short-range or urban deployments, but they have limitations when applied to BVLOS operations, particularly in remote or complex environments. Satellite communications, by contrast, offer global coverage and high reliability, making them a critical enabler for BVLOS safety and scalability.
Comparison of Terrestrial and Satellite Communication Links for BVLOS
| FEATURE / FACTOR | TERRESTRIAL (RADIO / LTE) | SATELLITE (e.g. Viasat Velaris) |
| Coverage | Limited to line-of-sight or cellular tower range; unreliable in remote, rural, or mountainous areas | Global coverage, including oceans, deserts, and remote regions |
| Range | Typically a maximum range of 20–50 kilometres; limited by terrain, buildings, and vegetation | Supports long-range missions conducted by remote operators, enabling centralised operation of dispersed drone fleets |
| Reliability | Vulnerable to outages, interference, congestion, and ground infrastructure failure. Not designed as a ‘safety of life service’ | Minimal ground infrastructure; >99.95% availability on aviation-grade services |
| Redundancy / Fallback | Redundancy is generally achieved by having a multiple SIM solution using different network providers. However, this does not overcome range issues or altitude issues due to crosstalk. | Primary control and non-payload communication (CNPC) over satcom, and secondary link for other data, e.g. video |
| Weather Resilience | Depending on the frequency used, performance may degrade in rain or extreme weather; high-frequency bands are especially vulnerable, but lower frequencies (e.g. used for cellular) are resilient | Frequency dependent. L-band signals from Viasat’s GEO constellation (used by Gotonomi) are resilient to rain fade, making operation possible in adverse weather. K-band and higher frequencies are vulnerable |
| Integration with Aviation | Consumer-grade networks not built for aviation needs; may lack prioritisation and reliability | Gotonomi terminals offer dedicated UAV connectivity via the Viasat Velaris Service, which uses dedicated and protected spectrum known as Aeronautical Mobile Satellite (Route) Service – AMS(R)S, and includes features like encrypted links, prioritised ATC data, and integration with airspace management |
| Scalability | Difficult to scale across remote environments without extensive infrastructure investment | Enables wide-area operations with zero ground infrastructure required for end-users, other than an internet connection for remote operators |
| Cost / Bandwidth | Low cost, high bandwidth (where coverage is available), but unreliable in underserved areas | Lower bandwidth (suitable for C2 and compressed data), but improving in affordability; hybrid use optimises data costs and performance |
| Latency | Low latency in good network conditions, but can be very high in congested areas | Higher latency (700ms one way for GEO), but acceptable for telemetry, control, and low-bitrate video with buffering. Prioritisation is available for safety of life services, which improves latency consistency |
Terrestrial networks will continue to play an important role in UAV operations, particularly where coverage is strong and bandwidth demands are high. However, gaps in coverage and vulnerability to disruption make them insufficient on their own for most BVLOS missions. By contrast, satellite communications provide the global, reliable, and aviation-grade backbone needed to safely extend operations beyond visual range.
For truly dependable BVLOS connectivity, hybrid approaches combining LTE and satellite, or even twin-band satcoms with a multi-orbit, multi-frequency network, offer the best of both worlds, i.e. redundancy, reach, and resilience.
Viasat Velaris: A UAV network built for aviation grade connectivity
One of the leading options for UAV satellite connectivity is Viasat’s Velaris network, designed specifically to support safe BVLOS operations. Unlike general-purpose satellite internet, Velaris offers a dedicated L-band safety service, with high reliability, priority messaging for C2 and airspace integration, and aviation-grade management standards.
Velaris provides global coverage, is trusted by regulators (drawing on Viasat’s experience with crewed aviation satcom), and supports hybrid use with cellular links. Its dependable service ensures drones can stay connected across borders and in remote regions without blackouts.
Though L-band has limited bandwidth, Velaris supports up to ~200 kbps – sufficient for telemetry, C2, and compressed video. Crucially, that bandwidth is reserved and stable within dedicated and protected spectrum. Velaris gives UAVs a dedicated, scalable comms backbone, making it a core enabler of BVLOS safety and confidence.
Gotonomi: Enabling BVLOS with low-SWaP satcom terminals
One major barrier to UAV satcom adoption has been the size and power demands of traditional terminals. Gotonomi has addressed this with a range of low-SWaP (size, weight, and power) satellite terminals, purpose-built for UAVs. These compact systems, weigh as little as 405g, including an omnidirectional antenna – no gimbals or pointing required. They deliver up to 200 kbps over the Velaris network, enabling always-on connectivity without compromising flight time or payload.
Gotonomi also offers modular options like the Velaris Module (core satcom board) and Multi-Link Module, which adds LTE and edge compute. This gives drone OEMs flexibility to integrate satcom across a wide range of airframes. Power consumption is low, typically 20W during transmit and receive, making these systems suitable even for smaller, <25kg drones.
These terminals have been proven in real-world trials, automatically falling back to satellite when LTE drops out, crucial for BVLOS reliability. With Viasat type approval and CE marking in place, Gotonomi’s terminals are now available for commercial deployment. Gotonomi also offers airtime and integration support, with an “always-on” model that avoids idle link fees, encouraging operators to keep safety links active at all times.
To further streamline deployment, Gotonomi has partnered with Videosoft Global to launch an Inspection and Surveillance Bundle—a turnkey package combining its Multi-Link terminal with Videosoft’s ultra-low-bandwidth video streaming software. This enables real-time video transmission over satellite, even in areas with no terrestrial coverage.
Together, Viasat Velaris connectivity and Gotonomi hardware enable reliable BVLOS for applications like inspection, delivery and emergency response. This is a key enabler for scaling beyond-line-of-sight operations with regulatory confidence and global reach.
Conclusion
BVLOS drone operations require more than range—they need reliable, always-on communications. Terrestrial links alone leave too many coverage gaps. Satellite fills those gaps, providing a consistent, global link and acting as a critical safety fallback. With lightweight terminals like Gotonomi’s and services such as Viasat Velaris, satcom is now a practical option even for small UAVs.
Just as GNSS is essential for positioning, satellite connectivity is essential for safe BVLOS flight—ensuring drones stay connected, controllable, and compliant. Whether it’s long-range inspection, medical delivery, or disaster response, satcom gives operators the reach and confidence needed to scale operations securely and meet regulatory standards.