Choosing the Right Cellular Plan for Your Skydio X10

The second generation Skydio X10 supports remote operation over LTE and 5G networks using your own SIM card and data plan on approved networks*. While this gives you flexibility to choose the mobile carrier and plan that best fits your needs, there are some unique considerations for drones that typical consumer plans do not account for.

This guide will help you select or request the right plan from your cellular provider.

Key Plan Considerations

When evaluating a data plan for your Skydio X10, ensure the following criteria are met:

• Plan Type: Data-only SIM (preferably 5G Standalone)
• Monthly Data Usage: 50–500 GB depending on operational tempo
• Uplink Speed: 5–10 Mbps minimum (unthrottled preferred)
• Altitude Restrictions: Must permit use under 400 ft AGL
• Fleet Options: Pooled/shared plans for multiple devices
• Priority Access: Public safety agencies may require WPS-enabled plans

Plan Type: Data-Only SIM (5G Standalone Preferred)

The X10 supports 5G Standalone (SA) and LTE networks.

For best performance, ask your carrier if they offer 5G Standalone (SA) plans, which typically provide:

• Better uplink speeds and latency
• Advanced features like network slicing or URLLC (if available)

Data Requirements

• Typical use case: under 50–100 GB per month
• Heavy use (e.g., Drone as First Responder with Dock): up to 500 GB per month
  • This level represents ~20 flights per day, every day

When speaking with your provider: “I need a data-only plan that allows for up to 500 GB of usage monthly, with most of the data being uploaded.”

Uplink Speed

• The drone streams video at ~5 Mbps uplink
• Plans that cap uplink below 5 Mbps may impact video quality
• Ask for upload speeds of 5–10 Mbps, ideally unthrottled

Altitude Restrictions

• Some cellular plans restrict use on “airborne” devices
• Let your provider know: “This is for a low-altitude drone operating under 400 ft AGL, used for commercial/public safety purposes.”

Most X10 flights are below 200 ft, so plans with a 400 ft ceiling are acceptable.

Fleets and Pooled Plans (Optional)

If you operate multiple drones or vehicles:

• Ask about pooled data plans shared across devices
• A good starting point could be 1 TB per month, depending on the size of your fleet
• Adjust the total based on the number of drones you plan to operate concurrently
• Consider plans with custom SLAs or negotiated QoS if available

Priority Access for Public Safety

If you are a public safety agency, first responder, or other eligible entity, you should consider a data plan that includes priority network access and preemption. Many U.S. carriers offer these capabilities through the federal Wireless Priority Service (WPS) program, which can improve connectivity during emergencies or network congestion.

To learn more, visit: Skydio X10 Wireless Priority Service (WPS)

Summary Checklist for Your Carrier

When speaking to a rep, you can say:

“I need a data-only SIM plan for use in a low-altitude commercial drone. It should support 5G SA or LTE, allow 50–500 GB of monthly usage depending on operational tempo, support 5–10 Mbps uplink speeds, and not restrict use below 400 ft altitude. Ideally, the plan supports pooled or fleet usage, and allows for priority or boosted data access if needed.”

*Current list of approved networks: AT&T, AT&T Firstnet, T-Mobile, T-Mobile WPS, Verizon (US), KDDI and NTT (Japan). Support for other international carriers is coming soon.