fbpx

SUPPLY CHAIN

Africa is set for world’s largest commercial drone deployment

By our News Team | 2022

Partnership aims to deploy 12 000 drones over five years to improve the reliability and efficiency of continent’s supply chains.

Africa could soon be home to the world’s largest commercial drone deployment – around 12 000 unmanned aircraft that would transform the continent’s supply chains and logistics from the ground up.

German drone delivery pioneer Wingcopter and Continental Drones Ltd., a subsidiary of Ghana- and Dubai-based Atlantic Trust Holding, recently announced that they have signed a partnership agreement to help establish drone-based delivery networks which will see thousands of Wingcopter drones deployed across 49 sub-Saharan African nations.

Supply Chain

Photo courtesy of Wingcopter and SUCOM drone communication systems

“These networks will dramatically improve the reliability and efficiency of existing supply chains but also help create completely new ones,” the businesses said in a statement.

According to the statement, over the next five years, the goal of the two partners is to deploy 12 000 Wingcopter 198 units, which are claimed to be the world’s most advanced delivery drone.

“In many African regions, insufficient infrastructure is one of the biggest barriers to universal health coverage and economic development. Setting up large-scale drone delivery networks across African airspace will propel logistics in these countries to a new level and help build an entirely new transport framework – much faster, cheaper, more sustainable and more efficient than the development of conventional ground-based infrastructure with all its unhealthy and climate-damaging emissions,” the statement said.

“Bridging the infrastructure gap through the deployment of large fleets of drones, even in the most remote places, will allow governments and the private sector to leapfrog inefficient infrastructure to climate-neutral, reliable and fast logistic capabilities.”

As the Wingcopter 198 is fully electric, it contributes to a more sustainable African logistics sector and will help move economies towards lower emissions.

Said Alexander Asiedu, Founder of Continental Drones and Chairman of Atlantic Trust Holding: “With our longstanding business experience on the ground and Wingcopter’s best-in-class drone technology, these networks offer a real chance to fuel economic development and help improve the livelihood of millions. African nations show true leadership by implementing this cutting-edge technology for the better of their people and generations to come.”

Social Media

Social Media

While some legislators want a complete ban on TikTok due to spying concerns, US marketers want to spend more on the platform.

Read More »
Social Media

Social Media

Utah is the first state to heavily curb minors’ access to social media, but others may follow with even stricter laws.

Read More »
Supply Chain

Supply Chain

Businesses can make more accurate predictions about demand, optimise their operations and make better decisions about inventory management.

Read More »
AMC News

AMC News

High-level Chartered Marketer (Africa) programme equips marketers to operate successfully in the continent’s complex and diverse markets.

Read More »
Content Marketing

Content Marketing

Why do some articles captivate readers and encourage them to keep reading, while others make them lose interest after just a few sentences?

Read More »
Digital Marketing

Digital Marketing

Analysis finds social media used by less than 4% of people, while mobile phone connections are equivalent to less than 60% of Malawians.

Read More »
E-commerce

E-commerce

E-commerce giant is yet another tech company that is finding the market increasingly tough. It has already cut 18,000 jobs.

Read More »
Customer Data

Customer Data

Survey finds 60% of marketing leaders believe collecting customer data while balancing privacy and customer value is now more challenging.

Read More »
Consumer Health

Consumer Health

It is not sufficient for consumers to want to decrease sugar intake. Brands should offer appealing products that help reduce consumption.

Read More »