Ericsson demos ISAC drone detection at Helsinki cargo harbour

TL;DR: Ericsson and Erillisverkot conducted live ISAC drone-detection demonstrations at a cargo harbour in Helsinki, Finland. The trial used several network points on 5G infrastructure to detect small, low-altitude drones across a large area. Ericsson said the approach could complement existing sensors and connect to authorities' command-and-control systems.

Ericsson and state-owned ICT company Erillisverkot conducted live demonstrations of Integrated Sensing and Communication, or ISAC, at a key cargo harbour in Helsinki, Finland. The trial was designed to validate whether ISAC could be deployed at ports of entry to help detect small, low-altitude drones.

Ericsson said the Helsinki demonstration showed how sensing information collected simultaneously from several network points can provide a wider view of the harbour area. The company said this approach could help authorities receive threat notifications sooner and improve decision-making and response times.

Ericsson said ISAC works by analysing RF signal reflections to provide spatial awareness without separate sensors. The company is currently running the function on 5G infrastructure and said it sees ISAC as a likely core element of future 6G networks.

Patrik Wikberg, head of Solution Area Public Safety at Ericsson, said reliable information is becoming essential for protecting critical infrastructure. Ismo Parviainen, chief specialist and CDO at Finland's Ministry of the Interior and an Erillisverkot board member, said authorities need clear and continuous situational awareness of low-altitude airspace and noted that ISAC uses existing mobile infrastructure.