BVLOS in the UK: Building the Infrastructure

The UK is laying the BVLOS foundation

The UK unmanned aircraft market is moving quickly, and regulators are now focused on what has to happen next for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations to grow safely. The challenge is no longer only about approving new use cases. It is also about building the communications and operational framework that makes those missions reliable.

The Civil Aviation Authority is working through the UK SORA C2 link policy concept as part of that effort. In practical terms, this means looking at how the command-and-control link should behave, what standards it should meet, and how it fits into a broader safety architecture.

Why the C2 link matters

For BVLOS flights, the C2 link is the critical connection between the aircraft and the operator. If that link is weak, inconsistent, or vulnerable, the rest of the system loses much of its value. That is why the discussion now includes telecoms requirements, cybersecurity, network performance, and resilience when conditions change.

The policy direction points to a more structured approach to:

• telecoms standards;
• cyber protection;
• 4G/5G connectivity;
• link reliability;
• safe behavior in case of degradation or loss of signal.

This is important because BVLOS is not just a drone issue. It is an infrastructure issue. Once the control link becomes part of aviation safety, it needs to be treated with the same discipline as any other safety-critical system.

Why mobile networks are part of the conversation

4G and 5G are attractive because they offer scale, coverage, and flexibility. For many drone applications, that makes them a practical candidate for BVLOS communications. But aviation use is different from consumer mobile use. A network can be widely available and still not meet the reliability, predictability, or security requirements needed for routine drone operations.

That is why the UK discussion is moving beyond “can drones use mobile networks?” to a more detailed question: how should those networks be integrated, monitored, secured, and backed up when they are used for flight operations?

What this means for the sector

For manufacturers, integrators, and operators, the message is clear: the next stage of BVLOS adoption will depend on the full stack, not just the aircraft. Aircraft capability matters, but so do communications, cybersecurity, and operational rules.

The UK is building a model where BVLOS safety rests on an end-to-end system rather than a single technology choice. If that framework matures as intended, it could become a useful reference for future unmanned aircraft infrastructure well beyond one market.