Germany's Deutsche Telekom plans to launch a drone
defense system this year designed to guard airports, stadiums, car
test tracks and critical infrastructure, German weekly Welt am
Sonntag reported on Sunday.
The increasing use of drones for commercial and leisure purposes
has led to a rise in the number of near-misses with aircraft and
infringements into no-fly zones, prompting companies and public
institutions to seek ways to fend them off.
Car manufacturers have asked Deutsche Telekom to provide
anti-drone systems to prevent their use to snap photos of
prototypes they test on race tracks, Welt am Sonntag reported.
The paper said Deutsche Telekom, which was not immediately
available for comment, had confirmed its plans to start offering a
drone defense system.
It also reported that soccer club FC Bayern Munich was looking
for a system to fend off drones during soccer matches.
German media reported in June that FC Bayern had talked to
defense group Rheinmetall about a possible purchase of
electromagnetic systems to combat drones.
Deutsche Telekom had invited a number of drone defense firms to
a demonstration of its technology in July, including U.S.-based
Dedrone, Australia's Droneshield, Norway's Squarehead Technology
and Airbus's Rohde & Schwarz, Welt am Sonntag said.