Drone detection moved beyond traditional local sensors in a live proof of concept Ericsson demonstrated at its U.S. headquarters in Plano, Texas. The company said the test used its ISAC technology, short for Integrated Sensing and Communication, to track unmanned aerial vehicles using telecommunications infrastructure rather than relying solely on standalone detection hardware.
According to the announcement, the proof of concept centered on drone detection using Ericsson massive-MIMO radios, highlighting how a mobile network can sense its surroundings by integrating sensing and spatial location of passive objects into the network. Ericsson described this as an evolution toward networks that both connect and sense, with potential use cases spanning commercial, public safety, and defense environments.
Drone Detection Uses Mobile Networks for Wide-Area Sensing
Ericsson said the core idea behind ISAC is extending a mobile network beyond connectivity by enabling it to detect and characterize objects and movement using existing infrastructure. In this proof of concept, the company described wide-area network sensing as a way to augment local sensors for UAV and airspace safety, transportation assistance, and industrial protection. The company also stated that the same sensing approach can enhance network performance.
The announcement positions the proof of concept as a U.S. leadership signal for ISAC technology, describing it as supporting national security goals, optimizing spectrum use, and driving economic growth. The company said ISAC can also enable faster adoption of emerging technologies such as autonomous systems and drone delivery by improving how networks perceive activity in and around their coverage areas.
The release includes a defense-focused perspective on why network-based sensing matters, emphasizing that adding sensing to communications infrastructure can provide an additional layer of safety and awareness. In explaining the potential impact of ISAC, the announcement includes a statement from the Department of War FutureG Office about how sensing through communication signals could expand what wireless networks can do in real-world environments.
“ISAC represents a transformative leap forward, merging advanced communications and sensing capabilities into a unified platform. By using communication signals to sense the physical world in real-time, ISAC gives wireless networks a new dimension of environmental awareness, enabling groundbreaking applications that advance both U.S. national security and commercial interests, and solidifying America’s leadership in the race to 6G.” Dr. Tom Rondeau, Principal Director for the DoW’s FutureG Office
Ericsson said its engineers are continuing to explore additional sensing use cases beyond drone detection, including automotive and transportation assistance and industrial automation and worker protection. The company framed these as applications that benefit from a wide-area network perspective and the ability to detect activity beyond the line of sight of individual local sensors.
Drone Detection Roadmap Links 5G ISAC to Early 6G Work
The announcement ties the proof of concept to standards development, stating that ISAC capability is progressing in 3GPP with initial studies in Release 19 and is expected to form part of early 6G standardization. Ericsson described this trajectory as laying a foundation for broad, scalable sensing applications, with drone detection representing one concrete example of what network-based sensing can support.
Ericsson also included U.S. operations context in the release, stating it has operated in the United States for more than 120 years and employs more than 6,000 people across the country. The company said it operates 12 R&D centers focused on areas including AI, ASIC design, and antenna systems, and described its Plano headquarters as a hub for advanced wireless R&D, standards development, and customer engagement.
In describing its U.S. footprint and manufacturing approach, Ericsson said it manufactures advanced 5G radios and RAN compute systems at its 5G USA Smart Factory in Lewisville, Texas, and stated it has invested more than $150 million in the facility. The company said the factory supports more than 550 U.S. manufacturing jobs and strengthens secure domestic supply chains, positioning that foundation as relevant as 6G technology matures.
The proof of concept is presented as a practical demonstration that sensing can be layered onto existing mobile network deployments. By using massive-MIMO radios to track UAVs and framing ISAC as a pathway toward scalable sensing in future networks, Ericsson positioned drone detection as one of the near-term applications that can help validate how communications infrastructure can be used to improve awareness and safety in shared airspace.
