A simulated major catastrophe has struck Barcelona. Security and emergency teams activate immediately, yet all conventional power and communication networks are down. This high-stakes scenario is precisely what Spanish multinational Telefónica is testing this week at the city’s Port Fòrum, showcasing a next-generation emergency response system designed to operate in the most extreme conditions.
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The drill showcases a shielded telecommunications system, creating an impenetrable, private network. This ensures external agents cannot intercept critical information. Crucially, it functions independently during a total city-wide blackout. The operation’s command centre is at the Mobile World Congress (MWC), where King Felipe VI observed the initial manoeuvres on Monday.
At the system’s heart lies a private, isolated 5G “bubble,” enabled by a mobile unit with a satellite connection. This resilient communications network functions even when all others have failed-a concept Telefónica and Barcelona’s emergency services have previously piloted. “The communications network of all operators has fallen, but the operation has a private 5G bubble,” explained Aitor Moreno, Telefónica’s Mission Critical specialist, speaking from Port Fòrum’s operational front.
A Symphony of Drones
The system coordinates the deployment of autonomous vehicles across land, sea, and air. A 3D map in the command centre geolocates every asset in real-time, from aquatic drones to quadruped robots, which crews pilot using 3D glasses. According to a report by El Periódico, the drill integrates technology from several specialist firms.
A fixed-wing drone from Barcelona-based engineering company Sitep takes to the sky, offering up to 100 minutes of flight time for reconnaissance. A drone swarm, controlled from a single suitcase unit provided by Alysis Robotics, joins it. Meanwhile, an aquatic drone from Seabots patrols the water’s surface, relaying live images and using two sonar systems to scan the seabed for objects or anomalies.
For underwater tasks, Telefónica deploys a remotely operated vehicle from Subsea Mechatronics. Equipped with a robotic arm and cutting pincers, it performs complex manipulations in the depths, such as clearing debris or carrying out repairs. Once aerial drones provide a complete terrain overview, quadruped ground robots, resembling robotic dogs, are sent in. These units come equipped with gas, thermal, and topographical sensors, enabling ground crews to understand specific area risks before entering.
From Search to Rescue
One of the system’s most powerful capabilities is locating people. It detects the number of mobile phone terminals in a given area with a 15-minute latency, even without a functioning public network. Moreno shared a real-world example of this technology’s success: “Not long ago, we were able to locate a missing person because they were the only hiker off the trail.”
The Barcelona Fire Brigade (Bombers de Barcelona) has shown particular interest in this feature for search and rescue operations in the vast Serra de Collserola natural park. “The system can scan the entire area in 20 minutes,” Moreno asserted.
After locating a victim, the system can deploy a drone carrying a briefcase similar to a mobile ICU. This advanced medical kit, with some versions already in use by Spain’s Ministry of Defence, includes tools to treat a critically injured person. It connects in real-time to an emergency centre, allowing a specialist doctor to view the patient’s vital signs, medical history, and live images. The doctor then guides on-site responders through procedures like cardiac resuscitation or applying a tourniquet. “The connectivity is total, but in this case, it is also protected: no external element has access to the private network or the information being transmitted,” Moreno detailed.
The Port Fòrum simulation demonstrates a potential blueprint for how cities can manage major crises, from a dam break and flooding to finding a single lost person. “The system can instantly determine how many people are in a location and their precise whereabouts, then dispatch aerial drones and ground forces to the exact spot,” the device’s operators explained.
This initiative aligns with a broader regional strategy to become a technological leader, as seen in Catalonia’s pledge to invest €1 billion in Artificial Intelligence by 2030. By integrating satellite communications, 5G, and a diverse fleet of autonomous robots, Telefónica’s system offers a glimpse into a future where technology provides a resilient safety net when all else fails.
