Elisa and Sensofusion launch drone detection venture

Finnish telecoms company Elisa and drone technology firm Sensofusion have formed a new company to build a drone detection network in Finland and Estonia, Yle reports. The venture, called Masthead, aims to cover all areas reached by Elisa’s mobile network.

Sensors installed on Elisa’s mobile phone masts will detect drones using radio frequency monitoring, acoustic detection and optical systems. Masthead is starting work on the network, but its commercial launch and deployment will come later. Chief executive Tuomas Rasila said he could not yet give a timeline.

The service is intended mainly to help companies and organisations protect infrastructure, rather than to support military defence. Data centres and energy production facilities could use the technology to guard against drone threats, Rasila said.

Masthead will provide the detection technology, not a consumer app that alerts people to drones. Rasila said other companies could build the technology into security products. Finnish and Estonian authorities could also become customers, but no agreements have been made.

Finland is developing a separate app to warn the public about drones, which is expected to reach mobile phones next year. Masthead’s longer-term goal is to expand elsewhere in Europe by renting network access from local telecoms operators.

Sensofusion’s business grew after several difficult years as drone warfare became more prominent during the war in Ukraine. Rasila founded the company before the war, initially inspired by consumer drones.