AirGSM: An unmanned, flying GSM cellular base station for flexible field communications

We present a functional implementation of a lightweight GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) cellular base station and core network based on open-source software, coupled with a simple and rapidly deployable autonomous aerial vehicle for establishing field communications in the absence of commercial service. We advocate the utility of mobile GSM cellular devices for communication and data acquisition in many types of fieldwork, posing advantages in functionality over conventional long-range push-to-talk radios and advantages in size over laptop type data terminals. We argue that alternative radio communications technologies inevitably fail to simultaneously optimize cost, power management, range, integration, and spectral efficiency compared to the GSM radio interface.