Hitachi Secures Exclusive Rights for Nokia ECE Drones in Japan

In a significant development, Hitachi Ltd. recently announced that it has obtained the exclusive rights to sell drones produced by Nokia's Enterprise Campus Edge Solutions (Nokia ECE) in Japan. This deal, finalized on August 25, 2026, includes the innovative "Nokia Drone Networks" solution, which is designed to enhance drone technology, particularly in the areas of automated flight and remote operations. The growing need for efficient infrastructure inspection and disaster response has propelled the demand for such advanced drone solutions, aimed at supporting frontline workers and improving safety precautions.

The Evolution of Drone Solutions by Hitachi

Over the years, Hitachi has developed unique drone solutions tailored for inspecting vital social infrastructures like electrical power facilities and for responding to disasters. With the newly secured rights, Hitachi will integrate Nokia Drone Networks into its offerings. This network allows for the use of drone ports capable of autonomous takeoff and landing, which means drones can be operated without a pilot on-site, enabling stable and efficient operations in various environments.

Nokia ECE has already begun deploying its drone solutions across Europe and North America, with notable installations in Belgium and the USA for public safety use. These drones are particularly effective in aiding emergency services such as police and firefighting operations.

Addressing Challenges in Infrastructure Maintenance

The recent years have highlighted the challenges posed by the aging of social infrastructure and a shortage of human resources on-site. With increased demand for efficiency and reduced human intervention in inspection and maintenance tasks, utilizing drones has emerged as a critical strategy. This is especially true in inspecting large-scale infrastructures that require work at heights, where safety and accessibility can become major concerns.

Furthermore, in the wake of natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, there is an urgent need for swift damage assessment. Drones can offer a solution for areas that are difficult for human operatives to reach, and they can gather essential data without exposing individuals to hazardous conditions.

The Unique Features of Nokia Drone Networks

The Nokia Drone Networks consists of drones, automatic drone ports for landing and charging, and software to manage operations effectively. By utilizing these features, Hitachi aims to provide remote inspection and monitoring services across vast areas. The drone's resilience in extreme weather conditions, combined with reliable communication systems, ensures consistent operation, even in challenging environments. LTE communication combined with dual SIM capabilities further enhances connectivity, ensuring uninterrupted monitoring.

Enhancing Safety and Efficiency in Operations

By partnering with Nokia ECE, Hitachi plans to integrate the powerful capabilities of the Nokia Drone Networks into its existing operational management systems. This collaboration will allow a comprehensive approach, from designing operations based on specific inspection needs to managing and analyzing the acquired data. As a result, frontline workers can conduct regular inspections from afar, significantly reducing risks and increasing safety.

In emergency scenarios where a quick assessment is critical, drones can be controlled remotely, even in hard-to-reach areas, allowing emergency responders to quickly evaluate the situation without delay. This level of efficiency is crucial during catastrophes, ensuring that infrastructure status can be promptly monitored to support effective response efforts.

Offering a Seamless Transition from PoC to Deployment

Hitachi’s drone solutions are designed to be scalable, allowing for seamless implementation from proof of concept (PoC) to operational utilization. The data collected will be systematically managed within a cloud environment, simplifying information sharing across multiple locations and promoting data reuse to enhance operational effectiveness further.

Future Prospects

Going forward, Hitachi is committed to expanding the application of drone technology in infrastructure inspection, maintenance, and disaster response through this partnership with Nokia. The integration of automated flight and remote operation capabilities will open new avenues for deployment across various sectors, aligning with the unique operational characteristics of each field. Hitachi plans to ensure that its solutions evolve in line with customer needs, leveraging technological advancements and collaborations with partners to enhance applicability and address the operational challenges faced by frontline workers in the field.

About Nokia ECE

Nokia is recognized as a world-leading provider of network technology, actively engaged in developing cutting-edge networks that connect people, devices, and intelligence in the emerging AI era. The solutions provided span a diverse range of services across fixed, mobile, IP, optical, core, and data center networks. More information can be found here.

About Hitachi

Hitachi aims to revolutionize social infrastructure through its innovative business strategies and continues to work towards creating a harmonized society that advances economic growth while prioritizing environmental sustainability and human well-being. For more information about their efforts, visit Hitachi's website.