AT&T Flying COW deployed to Puerto Rico

In November 2017, AT&T deployed a cellular-enabled drone, known as the Flying COW, to Puerto Rico to provide emergency communication services following Hurricane Maria. The drone was initially stationed in the San Juan area to help residents and first responders communicate after the storm damaged much of the local network infrastructure.

The drone is 7.5 feet in diameter and flies 200 feet above the ground. According to AT&T, it can remain in the air for an extended period and provide wireless connectivity across an area of up to 40 square miles. The company stated that this was the first time such a device had been deployed to provide coverage, which extends farther than traditional temporary cell sites.

AT&T had previously started using drones a year prior to inspect cell towers and planned to use them to boost coverage at large public events. The company also noted that LTE-equipped drones hold potential for FirstNet, a nationwide public safety network that AT&T is building under a contract with the federal government.

At the time of the deployment, AT&T had restored service to nearly 70 percent of the population in Puerto Rico and about 95 percent of the population in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The company planned to relocate the drone to various other areas on the island, including a military hospital at the Manati Coliseum.