Deutsche Telekom to launch drone defense system: report

<p><strong>Germany&#39;s Deutsche Telekom plans to launch a drone defense system this year designed to guard airports, stadiums, car test tracks and critical infrastructure, German weekly Welt am Sonntag reported on Sunday.</strong></p> <p><strong>The increasing use of drones for commercial and leisure purposes has led to a rise in the number of near-misses with aircraft and infringements into no-fly zones, prompting companies and public institutions to seek ways to fend them off.</strong></p> <p><strong>Car manufacturers have asked Deutsche Telekom to provide anti-drone systems to prevent their use to snap photos of prototypes they test on race tracks, Welt am Sonntag reported.</strong></p> <p>The paper said Deutsche Telekom, which was not immediately available for comment, had confirmed its plans to start offering a drone defense system.</p> <p>It also reported that soccer club FC Bayern Munich was looking for a system to fend off drones during soccer matches.</p> <p>German media reported in June that FC Bayern had talked to defense group Rheinmetall about a possible purchase of electromagnetic systems to combat drones.</p> <p>Deutsche Telekom had invited a number of drone defense firms to a demonstration of its technology in July, including U.S.-based Dedrone, Australia&#39;s Droneshield, Norway&#39;s Squarehead Technology and Airbus&#39;s Rohde &amp; Schwarz, Welt am Sonntag said.</p>