The revolutionary drone to tackle the next blackout

A general blackout—which we saw was possible in 2025—increasingly frequent floods that knock out telecommunications, or a high-mountain rescue in knee-deep snow with no cell service. These are some of the situations the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) must face, and they often pose a challenge to their telecommunications, a key element in responding to any emergency. Now, the Catalan police are testing a drone that could revolutionize this type of device. The Mossos presented it at this year's Mobile World Congress; it's a drone mounted on a patrol car. When needed, it takes off connected by a cable and can fly up to 60 meters. And it can do so continuously, without a battery to run out. "The cable powers it constantly," explains Inspector Tomàs Copete, head of the Systems and Telecommunications Division of the Mossos' General Commissariat of Information and Communication Technologies. Once airborne, this drone transforms into an antenna that creates a 5G communications bubble. In other words, it provides coverage for 500 square meters. "It radiates downwards indefinitely and can greatly facilitate communications in the midst of an emergency," Copete adds. But that's not all, as this drone also carries a thermal camera to detect survivors, day and night. "It's very versatile," the inspector emphasizes. Currently, the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) are in the testing phase. They are trying it out to see if all its functionalities work before incorporating it into operational tasks. The new room

In a Mossos d'Esquadra operation, there is an ever-increasing amount of information. Drones take off to provide an aerial perspective, officers wear body cameras to see everything they see, not to mention traffic cameras, business security cameras, and all the recordings posted on social media during a demonstration, riot, or high-security event. That's why, the inspector explains, it's crucial to be able to "consolidate" all this information at the command center. This is a room where the police commanders meet and who guide and direct the steps to be taken during an operation.

During Mobile World Congress, the Mossos d'Esquadra also unveiled a new command center, one hub The new room features three wraparound screens, giving the operator a 180-degree view of the information, allowing them to "digest" all the images "easily and quickly" in order to make the right decisions. The Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) believe this will enable them to work more effectively in emergencies and make more informed operational decisions.