Maintaining mobile networks has traditionally meant field crews, permits, closed roads and climbing towers. Several pilot projects show how robots, drones and AI are starting to take over part of that work, and one of them involves a Bulgarian company.
Vodafone: an antenna that points itself
In Tirana, Vodafone is testing a mast fitted with AI and a robotic arm that physically changes the direction and tilt of the antenna to improve 4G and 5G coverage. The system analyses traffic and weather, then sends commands to a robot supplied by South Korea's Humax Networks.
- In good weather the signal is focused outdoors; in bad weather indoor coverage gets the boost.
- Automatic adjustment takes 20-30 minutes, compared with days or weeks the traditional way.
- Francisco Pignatelli of Vodafone describes the project as an early example of "physical AI" in telecoms.
MYX: digital twins of towers
Bulgarian company MYX is building a platform that turns data from drones, satellites, LiDAR and photos into precise 3D digital twins of mobile towers. According to Digitalk, the platform can eliminate more than 80% of site visits for operators and tower owners such as American Tower. AI identifies the installed equipment, metal fatigue and corrosion, and simulates electromagnetic fields when new equipment is being planned.
Other examples
- Nokia Drone Networks offers docked, 5G-connected drones that take off on a schedule or when an alarm is triggered.
- AT&T in the US and Comarch in Europe apply machine learning to drone footage to spot damaged cables and misaligned transmitters.
Why this is happening now
The main drivers are energy efficiency, the rising operating costs of 5G and getting rid of dangerous tower climbs. The digital twin is the key technology: once you have an accurate model of a site, many decisions can be made remotely.
What this has to do with web development
More than you might think. Platforms like MYX's run on web interfaces that have to visualise 3D data, stay fast and stay secure. Tech companies with products like these also need a website that explains complex technology clearly. If that sounds like you, take a look at the custom web solutions we build.
Source: Digitalk: Robots and drones take over telecom network maintenance (in Bulgarian). This article is an independent analysis by Penkov Studio.
