Kenya's first smart city, Konza Technopolis is taking a bold step forward in advancing the future of African aviation technology through a new strategic partnership with Highlander Airlines (UTM), the global leader in unmanned aerial system (UAS) traffic management (UTM).
Under the newly signed strategic agreement between the Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KOTDA) and High Lander, the company will provide Vega UTM solutions to support the establishment and operation of Konza National Drone Corridor (KNDC). This enables smart city infrastructure to integrate cutting-edge UAS technology and airspace management to enable secure, compliant and scalable drone operations to be consistent with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).
“The Konza National Drone Corridor is a clear demonstration of Consa Technopolis' commitment to pioneering innovation and shaping the future of Africa's clever cities,” said John Paul Okwili, CEO of Consa Technopolis. “As a flagship initiative within our innovation ecosystem, KNDC places Konza Technopolis and Kenya within the ranks of global technology leaders. The integration of Highlander's Vega UTM and Orion Drone Fleet Management Platform into infrastructure is a critical moment.
It will accelerate both technological and economic transformation while opening the door to local and international collaboration. ”
Vega UTM acts as the digital backbone for KNDC, creating a controlled airspace that allows you to manage UAS activity in real time. Drone operators benefit from a seamless interface that allows them to request flight permissions through a unified digital portal, significantly reducing management delays. Vega's autonomous deconfluence mechanisms (both strategic (prospective) and tactical (in flight) provide a safe, regulated and efficient environment for both manned and unmanned aviation.
Additionally, VEGA enables secure data sharing between KNDC and KCAA airspace managers, further enhancing regulatory compliance and operational safety.
“It is a great honor to be chosen to offer UTM technology to Consultant Drone Corridor, Africa's first visual gaze (BVLOS)-approved UAS technology sandbox.” “With KCAA's support, this project will showcase the diverse applications of UAS technology and show how it can be safely integrated into large-scale controlled airspaces. VegaUTM is proud to serve as the basis for safe and efficient drone operations as this initiative expands.”
As a newly approved UAS and BVLOS test corridor, KNDC is poised to revolutionize drone deployments across Kenya and the continent. It is anchored in the Konza Technopolis innovation ecosystem and drives regional economic growth by attracting global technology partners and vendors looking for test vendors for next-generation drone solutions.
KNDC supports smart services delivery in priority sectors, including precision agriculture and surveillance, aviation mapping and surveying, logistics and freight transport, pipeline and power line inspection, wildlife and forest cover monitoring, healthcare delivery and more. It is also expected to unlock new opportunities for entrepreneurship, job creation, and investment, and solidify Konza's position as Africa's premier destination for smart mobility and future technology innovation.
About Highlander Airlines
Highlander was founded in 2018 by air veterans and technology experts, and by dream technology experts. This is the safe and effective integration of UAS into airspaces around the world. The company accomplishes this with two scalable software-only solutions. The first is Orion DFM, a hardware-independent platform for creating, managing and automating UAS missions at any application and at any scale. The second is Vega utm, a
The next-generation UAS traffic management platform provides airspace authorities with the tools they need to maintain strict standards in the increasingly busy sky.
About Consa Technopolis
Konza Technopolis is the flagship smart city project for Kenya's long-term development blueprint, Kenya's Vision 2030, with the aim of transforming Kenya into a new, industrialized, middle-income economy. Also known as the African Silicon Savanna, Konza is a 5,000-acre masterplan city designed to drive economic growth through science, technology, innovation and knowledge-based industries. Strategically located 60km southeast of Nairobi, the city is being developed as a major science
A park and field of innovation focused on world-class infrastructure and sustainability and digital transformation that allows people to live, work and play. Konza Technopolis is believed to contribute at least 2% to Kenya's national GDP and position the country as the continent's best technology and innovation hub. The Smart City is managed by the Consatechnopolis Development Agency (KOTDA) under the Ministry of Information, Communications and Digital Economy.
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