Drone Communication Market Report 2025

The drone communication market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $3.08 billion in 2024 to $3.68 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.6%. The growth during the historical period was fueled by the rise of drone-as-a-service (DaaS), expansion of 4G/LTE networks, broader military and defense drone use, development of UAV regulatory frameworks, and advancements in electronics miniaturization.

The drone communication market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $7.45 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.3%. This anticipated growth is driven by increasing adoption of drones in delivery and transport services, rising demand for drone-related services, enhanced investments in secure communication infrastructure, and the growing utilization of drones in military applications. Key trends expected include the evolution of satellite-based communication, incorporation of artificial intelligence and encrypted communication in drone navigation, improved autonomous surveillance, object tracking, and collision avoidance systems.

The growing security concerns and vulnerabilities are expected to propel the growth of the drone communication market going forward. Security concerns and vulnerabilities refer to potential weaknesses in a system that could be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access, disrupt operations, or steal sensitive information. The rise in vulnerabilities is driven by increased digital connectivity, as more connected systems expand the attack surface for potential threats. Drone communication contributes to vulnerabilities by transmitting sensitive data over wireless networks, which can be intercepted or disrupted if not properly secured. For instance, in November 2024, according to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), an Australia-based government agency, in the 2023-24 financial year, the Australian Cyber Security Hotline operated by ASD received more than 36,700 calls, marking a 12% increase compared to the previous year. Therefore, the growing security concerns and vulnerabilities are driving the growth of the drone communication market.

Major companies operating in the drone communication market are focusing on developing innovative solutions, such as multi-link bonded LTE communication systems, to enhance data transmission reliability, increase bandwidth, and ensure seamless connectivity in challenging environments. These systems combine several LTE connections from different providers or frequency bands into a single, high-performance data link. For example, in September 2024, Israel-based technology company Elsight Ltd. launched a multi-link bonded LTE communication solution via its DroneCommX aftermarket kit for DJI’s Matrice 30 and 350 drones. This technology merges four LTE modems into one bonded channel, delivering encrypted, jam-resistant communications through protocols such as M-TLS and AES-256. It substitutes the traditional 2.4 GHz peer-to-peer (P2P) transmission and enables non-line-of-sight operations while maintaining uninterrupted, high-bandwidth, encrypted data and video streaming to remote command centers.

In October 2024, Axon Enterprise, Inc., a US-based technology and weapons development company, acquired Dedrone Holdings for an undisclosed amount. With this acquisition, Axon Enterprise aims to enhance public safety and national security by integrating Dedrone’s advanced airspace security technology with Axon’s public safety platform, enabling faster, smarter, and more effective responses to both authorized and unauthorized drone activity and ultimately protecting more lives in more places. Dedrone Holdings is a US-based company that offers drone communication solutions, specifically through its counter-drone technology and mitigation systems.

Major players in the drone communication market are General Dynamics Corporation, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Honeywell International Inc., BAE Systems plc, Thales S.A., Elbit Systems Ltd., Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., Viasat Inc., Aselsan Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., Iridium Communications Inc., AeroVironment Inc., Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd., Skydio Inc., Microdrones GmbH, Paras Defense and Space Technologies Limited, BRINC Drones Inc., Delair SAS, AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc., DroneShield Ltd., Freefly Systems Inc., Teal Drones Inc., Draganfly Innovations Inc., ZALA Aero Group, and Mynaric AG.

North America was the largest region in the drone communication market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in drone communication report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the drone communication market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The sharp hike in U.S. tariffs and the associated trade disputes in spring 2025 are notably impacting the aerospace and defense sector by raising costs for titanium, carbon fiber composites, and avionics materials largely sourced from global suppliers. Defense contractors, locked into fixed-price government contracts, absorb these added costs, while commercial aerospace firms face airline pushback on higher aircraft prices. Delays in component shipments due to customs bottlenecks further disrupt tight production schedules for jets and satellites. The industry is responding by stockpiling critical materials, seeking waivers for defense-related imports, and collaborating with allied nations to diversify supply chain.

Drone communication involves the transmission of data and control signals between drones and ground stations or other connected devices, facilitating real-time exchange of telemetry, commands, and video feeds. This transmission supports the relay and reception of control instructions, telemetry information, video streams, and sensor data in real time, ensuring efficient navigation, coordination, and execution of missions.

The primary components in drone communication include transmitters, receivers, antennas, and data links. A transmitter in drone communication is a device that transmits control signals, telemetry data, or video streams wirelessly between the drone and the ground control unit. This communication relies on technologies such as radio frequency, satellite, cellular, and meshed networks, catering to multiple applications such as inspection, construction and mining, oil and gas, and agriculture. These systems serve a range of end-users, including private operators, commercial businesses, and government and defense sectors.

The drone communication market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides drone communication market statistics, including drone communication industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a drone communication market share, detailed drone communication market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the drone communication industry. This drone communication market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The drone communication market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as real-time telemetry and command-and-control links, high-definition video and sensor-data streaming, beyond-line-of-sight connection, secure data encryption and network management, and leasing or maintenance of communication equipment. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The drone communication market also includes sales of radio transceivers and modems, high-gain antennas and signal amplifiers, ground control stations and data-link hardware, and software-defined radio platforms. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values and are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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