Telefónica's autonomous drones tackle plastic waste in Valencia's harbour
Drones Unnerve Many—but They Can Also Do Good
In modern warfare, drones have gained a sinister reputation. Yet they can also serve highly practical purposes. Spanish telecoms giant Telefónica S.A., together with its subsidiary Telefónica Tech and the port authority in Valencia, is testing a new system for cleaning harbor basins using autonomous drones.
Pilot Project in Valencia's Marina Port
For the first time, a pilot initiative at Marina Port Valencia is deploying interconnected, autonomous drones capable of detecting and removing floating waste and microplastics from the water. Telefónica aims to demonstrate how IoT (Internet of Things) and 5G technology can help protect oceans and port infrastructure more efficiently—whether by combating pollution or optimizing maintenance.
Digital Tech Takes on the Plastic Crisis
Experts estimate that 60 to 80 percent of global marine debris is plastic. Even in Europe and Germany, microplastics, discarded fishing gear, and floating waste are increasingly clogging coastal waters and harbors. Autonomous, networked cleaning systems like the one now being trialed in Valencia could soon make waste removal in other European ports more efficient and climate-friendly.
The project's goal is to automate trash collection in the harbor while cutting CO₂ emissions compared to conventional cleaning methods. The system is being developed in collaboration with the Valenciaport Foundation and Marina Port Valencia.
How Does It Work?
At the heart of the system is an autonomous waste-collecting drone built by RanMarine, a company partnering with the Plastfree Ocean initiative. The device monitors water quality in real time and, with an operational range of over 20 kilometers and a battery life of up to eight hours, can collect as much as 500 kilograms of debris per day.
Equipped with cameras and LiDAR sensors, the drone navigates independently and safely avoids obstacles. All image and sensor data are transmitted via IoT and 5G connectivity to a central analytics platform, enabling real-time mission planning and oversight.
Showcase at MWC Barcelona
Telefónica will unveil this solution on March 4 at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. In a session titled "Marine Sustainability in Action: IoT, 5G, and Aquatic Drones Tackling Waste and Microplastics" at the Telefónica booth, Telefónica Tech will explain how modern mobile networks and sensor technology are opening new avenues for maritime environmental protection.
Positioning itself as a digital transformation provider, Telefónica Tech specializes in cybersecurity, cloud computing, IoT, big data, artificial intelligence, and blockchain.
