BT powers first routine police drone flights beyond visual range
BT Business has switched on its Drone SIM for British Transport Police, letting officers launch drones from fixed stations and fly them beyond the pilot’s line of sight. The service runs on EE’s mobile network and is already live at seven sites, with plans to reach 14 within two years. It covers more than 20,000 miles of track where trespass, welfare and disruption calls happen.
In 2023/2024 alone, Network Rail recorded over 19,300 trespass incidents — roughly one every 30 minutes. Until now, officers often had to drive long distances before they could judge the scene. The new setup lets a central London Bridge team launch a drone, stream UHD video and decide next steps without waiting for someone to arrive on foot.
What the connectivity actually delivers
BT’s Drone SIM keeps command-and-control links and live video working even when the drone is far from Wi-Fi and in tricky radio environments. Officers and rail staff get immediate aerial intelligence, which cuts decision time, reduces the number of staff sent to remote spots and limits how long trains are held up.
Who benefits and what it means for mobile users
Passengers see fewer delays; officers face less risk. The same EE network that carries these mission-critical flights is the one millions of us use every day, so the investment in altitude coverage and resilience feeds back into ordinary mobile service too. You can compare current EE and rival plans here if you want to see how the underlying network performs for everyday use.
Sian Penny, Public Safety & Justice Director at BT said : “From emergency services to national infrastructure, BT plays a vital role in keeping the UK connected and protected. We’ve built on that experience in our work with the British Transport Police, unlocking practical new uses for drone technology, underpinned by the secure, resilient connectivity that critical services require. Together we’re delivering clear benefits for both passengers and rail operators, by giving officers real-time intelligence, improving safety and helping the rail network respond more quickly when incidents occur.”
Simon Bachelor, Head of Drones Programme, British Transport Police said: “As the first UK police force to routinely operate BVLOS drones as part of day-to-day policing, we are transforming the way we respond to incidents across the rail network. Real-time aerial intelligence enables our teams to assess situations faster, deploy resources more effectively and improve safety for both officers and the public. This collaboration with BT demonstrates how innovation can support more efficient policing while helping to minimise disruption for passengers and rail operators”
