Botlink: Reliable Connectivity for BVLOS Drone Operations
Botlink's XRD2 hardware powers BVLOS drone operations around the world. Here's how TEAL's eSIM gave Botlink one SIM and one APN instead of a different connectivity vendor for every region.
About Botlink
Botlink was founded in Fargo, North Dakota, by military pilots and engineers who wanted to bring the benefits of drones to everyday use, safely. The company builds the XRD2, a leading cellular drone connectivity hardware and software platform, along with automated drone control and safety features that help operators stay compliant with complex flight regulations.
Botlink's Challenge
Beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations depend on connectivity that simply cannot drop, but that's exactly what's hardest to guarantee at scale. Botlink's customers were managing multiple vendors and contracts just to get cellular coverage across different regions, with no network redundancy if one carrier failed, and no clear path forward as 3G networks sunset and 5G rollouts changed the landscape underneath them. For drone operators running critical missions, that patchwork of connectivity was, in Botlink's words, standing between them and being able to fly with confidence anywhere in the world.
How Teal Helped Botlink
TEAL's patented, GSMA-certified eSIM technology gave the Botlink XRD2 a single SIM and a single APN, with access to multiple cellular networks around the world, including direct access to major U.S. telecom providers, instead of a different connectivity setup for every region. That single upgrade unlocked cellular networks worldwide for XRD2 users and gave Botlink's BVLOS operations the always-on reliability they'd been missing.
"Our eSIM technology eliminates the traditional limitations of cellular network providers, offering unparalleled flexibility and reliability, so Botlink can seamlessly deploy their technology worldwide ensuring the highest level of service and availability for their customers," said Robby Hamblet, CEO of TEAL.
The Results
Botlink's XRD2 now runs on a single SIM and APN worldwide instead of juggling separate cellular agreements by region, giving operators direct access to major U.S. telecom providers and removing the redundancy and roaming concerns that used to come with every new deployment. With connectivity no longer the limiting factor, Botlink can keep pushing the boundaries of what BVLOS drone technology can do.
"After years of shipping the XRD around the world to customers, we knew that the final piece of the puzzle was to find the right SIM and data provider. TEAL was the perfect partner for us and our customers, as it delivers a single SIM and APN while letting the customer utilize different cellular networks around the world, including direct access to the major telecom providers in the U.S."