Wireless providers have all sorts of cool tools that they have access to whenever they need to make a quick adjustment to improve 4G or 5G service under certain conditions. One such piece of equipment is called a C.O.W., and no, you cannot milk it nor can you turn it into a roast beef sandwich. C.O.W. stands for Cellular On Wheels. Whenever a carrier needs a short-term boost to improve its signal in a particular area, it calls for a C.O.W. to be driven into the area.
AT&T is turning to drones to tweak its 5G coverage in certain areas when needed
The trucks, which can be rented for $4,000 per month, come with all the gear needed to expand coverage during a major sporting event (such as the Super Bowl or a winner-take-all World Series game 7), or a major conference. While a C.O.W. is technically a short-term solution to a temporary problem affecting cellular service, some providers have been forced to use a C.O.W. as a long-term solution when the budget comes up short.
A Flying COW drone provides enhanced 4G and 5G coverage to AT&T subscribers
AT&Tsays that the drones can cover 10 square miles with a strong 5G signal. Ethan Hunt, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Principal Program Manager, AT&T, said, ““We had intermittent, weak LTE signal at the flight location before we launched the 5G Flying COW. We flew the drone up to about 300 feet, turned on the signal and it began transmitting strong 5G coverage to approximately 10 square miles.”
The carrier says that its intention is to use the drones to help first responders, mountain rescue services, and others get a strong connection to 4G or 5G to help with a rescue. But drones do have limitations, especially when it comes to how long they can stay airborne. Currently, AT&T can get two hours of flight time from its drones compared to 30 minutes for consumer-oriented models.
AT&T hopes to improve the flight time of its Flying COWs
Another area where a 5G Flying COW could be of some assistance is under rugged conditions where the terrain makes it impossible for a truck to be driven into the area to improve the 5G coverage. So next time you see something flying in the sky and aren’t sure what it is, you might find yourself saying, “look up in the sky. It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s a flying COW.” And someday you might be enjoying extremely fast 5G service away from home all thanks to an AT&T mobile hotspot powered by a Flying COW.
