Network coverage to get better with fewer workers climbing towers. How is that possible?

All major telcos like T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T could bless their customers with a better, more reliable network – not by adding new cell towers or relying on satellites, but simply by using… drones.

That's right, drones are reshaping one of the most dangerous and expensive maintenance workflows: cell tower inspections. Instead of sending technicians hundreds of feet into the air, companies increasingly rely on FAA-certified pilots and autonomous flight systems to gather data faster, safer, and with greater precision.

Why go up there?

Telecom networks run on thousands of towers, and each one needs eyes on it regularly to stay strong and online. For years, that meant sending trained climbers up those towers, and it's not always sunny and easy – sometimes, there's rough weather (and let's not forget about gravity or electric shocks hazard). It worked, but it was risky, slow, and expensive, and it limited how often crews could check on equipment.

Drones change it all, as a new report reads. Instead of someone dangling hundreds of feet in the air, FAA-certified pilots send up high-tech gear that snaps images, picks up heat signatures, and maps the structure with LiDAR. What used to take days out in the field now could get wrapped up in just a few hours. Teams review the footage from the ground or the office, then roll out only when there is a real issue to fix, already knowing what tools and parts they need.

This shift means telecom crews are not waiting for gear to fail. Every drone flight logs detailed visuals, catching corrosion, loose parts, and overheating early. With clearer info and fewer surprises, teams fix issues faster and keep networks running smoothly.

Time savings

Tower climbing has long been one of telecoms riskiest jobs, with falls, equipment failures, and electrical hazards making safety a constant concern. Drone inspections keep personnel on the ground, cutting exposure to danger while improving overall safety and reducing liability.

Drones also save time and boost accuracy. They capture detailed, repeatable data that helps track wear, spot vegetation issues, and plan maintenance more effectively. As networks expand for 5G, drones provide faster, smarter, and safer inspections, giving companies the insights and efficiency manual climbs can't match.

Hey, if it works

Of course, there'll be situations where a drone won't be able to spot precisely what's wrong up there – and a worker will still have to climb high – but the fact that there are such technological advancements is great.