Beyond the Visual Line of Sight: What Satellite Connectivity Matters for the Future of Commercial Drones

Commercial drones are changing how organizations inspect infrastructure, monitor remote assets, survey land, and collect data across large or difficult-to-access areas. As these applications expand, the ability to operate beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) could unlock even greater opportunities.   

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reports more than 837,000 registered drones and 481,000 certificated remote pilots in the United States. The regulatory environment is evolving alongside the industry. In August 2025, the FAA released a proposed rule designed to establish a framework for routine BVLOS operations, highlighting potential applications ranging from agriculture to package delivery.  

As commercial UAS travel farther, however, organizations face another important question: The drone may be able to go farther in. Can its connectivity go with it?   

Closing the Remote Connectivity Gap  

Many of the applications that stand to benefit from expanded UAS operations take place precisely where terrestrial communications infrastructure can be limited.  Utilities manage transmission infrastructure across hundreds of miles. Energy companies maintain assets in isolated locations. Agricultural operations can span thousands of acres, while environmental monitoring may take place across forests, waterways, coastlines, and other remote environments.   

UAS can help organizations assess these areas more efficiently while reducing the need to send personnel into difficult or potentially hazardous locations. But as aircraft move beyond reliable cellular coverage, maintaining access to important operational information becomes more challenging.  Satellite communications can help close that gap.   

Rather than replacing terrestrial connectivity, satellite can provide an additional communications layer when UAS move outside traditional network coverage. Depending on the application, that can include transmitting aircraft location, location, telemetry, sensor readings, equipment status, and automated alerts.

From Remote Data to Actionable Information  

As commercial UAS become increasingly autonomous,the connectivity conversation is also changing.  The goal isn’t necessarily to transmit every piece of data a drone or sensor collects. Instead, connected systems can identify significant events and communicate actionable information when it matters.   

For example, a UAS inspecting remote infrastructure could report an equipment condition requiring attention. An environmental sensor could flag a reading outside established parameters. An autonomous platform could transmit a change in its operational status.   

Satellite connectivity can help move these insights from remote environments to the people and systems that need them even when terrestrial connectivity isn't available.

Designing Satellite Connectivity into UAS  

For UAS manufacturers and systems integrators, adding satellite communications also requires careful consideration of size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP C). Every component aboard an aircraft can affect endurance, payload capacity, and overall system performance.   

Globalstar’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network and embedded technologies provide connectivity options designed for remote IoT and autonomous applications.   

Globalstar’s compact, low-power STX3 satellite module can support one-way applications such as location reporting, telemetry, sensor data, and automated alerts. For applications requiring greater functionality, the RM200M provides two-way satellite communications along with integrated capabilities that can support more advanced connected and edge-enabled applications.   

These options allow OEMs and systems integrators to match satellite connectivity to the requirements of the aircraft and applications rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.   

Connectivity for What’s Next  

The FAA’s movement toward routine BVLOS operations reflects a commercial drone ecosystem that is becoming more capable, more autonomous and able to operate across greater distances.  Realizing the potential will require more than aircraft that can fly farther. It will require communications architectures capable of supporting them when they do.   

For commercial UAS operating across rural, remote, and infrastructure-limited environments, satellite connectivity can help extend operational visibility beyond the reach of terrestrial networks.  

Learn more about the STX3 here and the RM200M here.