Globalstar and Skydio Validate Band n53 and XCOM RAN in First Drone Connectivity Trial

Globalstar and Skydio Validate Band n53 and XCOM RAN in First Drone Connectivity Trial

Key Takeaways

• Skydio’s X10 drone successfully operated on Globalstar’s licensed Band n53 and XCOM RAN private 5G platform.
• The trial focused on secure, high‑uplink command, control, and video performance for public safety scenarios.
• Both companies highlight rapid integration capabilities and the potential for hybrid indoor and outdoor deployments.

Globalstar and Skydio have completed their first joint demonstration of drone operations utilizing Globalstar’s licensed Band n53 spectrum and the XCOM RAN private 5G platform. For a story deeply rooted in RF engineering, the companies frame the outcome in a surprisingly practical way: it isn’t just about throughput, but about predictable, high‑reliability links for drones operating in environments where Wi‑Fi or public cellular often struggle.

The validation work centered on the Skydio X10, the company’s flagship autonomous drone. Engineering teams tested both command‑and‑control functions and real‑time video transmission over Band n53, paired with the deterministic behavior Globalstar claims its XCOM RAN system delivers. Crucially, the trial supported n53 using a radio module already integrated into the Globalstar ecosystem. Skydio CTO Abe Bachrach noted this was key to getting the project off the ground quickly. It’s a small detail, but it hints at how these integrations often succeed or stall based entirely on whether certified modems are actually available on the shelf.

Band n53 itself is worth pausing on. Few private 5G deployments get access to fully licensed spectrum; Globalstar controls this band outright. For enterprises, this means no contention with neighbors and no “RF surprises” when a workflow depends on a stable uplink. For public safety agencies deploying drones around incident scenes or congested urban corridors, that sort of predictability isn’t a nice‑to‑have. It’s often the difference between holding a connection and losing the bird.

As Globalstar describes it, XCOM RAN brings deterministic performance, high uplink throughput, and “robust coherence” in dense environments. Some readers may raise an eyebrow at the term coherence here—5G marketing often drifts into the abstract—but in this context, it refers to the system’s ability to maintain consistent behavior when the environment gets difficult. Think multipath interference, metallic structures, and unpredictable RF reflections. If a drone’s video feed flickers during a search‑and‑rescue operation, operators notice immediately.

The companies kept the public messaging grounded. Skydio emphasized the speed of integration and the value of a platform that can flex between indoor and outdoor use cases. Globalstar CEO Dr. Paul E. Jacobs underscored the reliability needs of public safety agencies, positioning Band n53 and XCOM RAN as well‑suited to high‑uplink applications like autonomous flight. That logic holds up; uplink is often the Achilles’ heel of both commercial LTE and Wi‑Fi when drones attempt to push multiple high‑resolution video streams simultaneously.

This trial sits within Globalstar’s broader strategy involving its terrestrial and satellite assets. The company already operates a global LEO satellite constellation and controls the Band 53/n53 spectrum that underpins both its terrestrial and satellite offerings. Its ecosystem spans GPS messengers, enterprise safety tools, and the private wireless platform that XCOM RAN builds upon. The thread tying these pieces together is the ability to serve automation, asset tracking, and mission‑critical communication needs under one brand. A bit sprawling, perhaps, but it forms a coherent portfolio.

XCOM RAN is positioned as next‑generation private 5G, with a design Globalstar says increases capacity by four times compared to first‑generation systems. The company attributes this to a new “Supercell” architecture intended to remove the need for complex site surveys and traditional network design. On paper, that is appealing for industrial operators who want coverage without weeks of RF mapping. Anyone who has tried to deploy coverage in a dense factory or warehouse knows how messy that work can get. Could the Supercell model simplify that? It remains one of the lingering questions for IT teams evaluating private wireless without deep in-house RF resources.

Another notable element is flexibility: XCOM RAN can run on shared spectrum typically used in private 5G deployments, or it can use Band n53 as a dedicated, licensed option for customers who want to avoid interference entirely. Having both levers—shared when cost matters, licensed when reliability is paramount—gives enterprise buyers more control over their deployment profiles. It also positions Globalstar differently from vendors who rely exclusively on shared spectrum models like CBRS.

Skydio’s presence in the partnership brings credibility with public safety, government, utilities, and enterprise users that have standardized on the company’s drones for autonomous inspection and incident response. The company designs and assembles its products in the U.S., and its customer base skews heavily toward mission‑critical roles where dependable links matter more than raw range numbers. In a way, this trial acts as a test case not just for RF compatibility, but for how private 5G might pair with autonomous flight systems more broadly.

The public safety angle is implicit but significant. Agencies increasingly rely on drones for situational awareness, often operating in RF‑dense areas where Wi‑Fi backhaul becomes unusable. Public cellular is an option, but it isn’t always available at remote incident sites, and uplink performance can degrade severely under congestion. Private 5G with deterministic characteristics could give operators a more controlled path. Whether that leads to mass adoption is an open question, but the validated link between the Skydio X10 and Globalstar’s Band n53 brings a verified tool into the mix.

Globalstar and Skydio have avoided overpromising here, which is refreshing in a sector prone to grand declarations. Instead, the emphasis is on reliability, quick integration, and the operational realities of public safety deployments. For B2B leaders evaluating the intersection of private wireless and autonomous systems, this trial offers a concrete example rather than a speculative roadmap.