• German drone delivery provider Wingcopter has partnered with Continental Drones, a subsidiary of Ghana and Dubai-based Atlantic Trust Holding, to deploy 12,000 “Wingcopter’s 198” drones across 49 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa over the next five years. This marks the world’s largest commercial drone-based delivery deployment.

• As per the deal, Continental Drones will join Wingcopter’s Authorized Partnership Program (WAPP)—its global network of strategic partners—where Continental Drones is the distributor and local technical support provider for Wingcopter’s drone customers in the said African countries.

• Wingcopter 198 model can carry a payload of up to 13 lbs covering a range of up to 63 miles. The model is also designed to carry three packages in a single run. The drones will be controlled by remote drone pilots—one monitoring up to 10 drones simultaneously. The company expects to deliver the first fleet of drones in Q1 2023.

<ul><li> Analyst QuickTake: Africa has been a popular destination for drone-based delivery providers where reaching remote locations is a real barrier to delivery. Wingcopter alone has conducted delivery trials in several African countries including Kenya, Malawi, and Tanzania. Furthermore, peer drone-based delivery providers such as Zipline, Volansi, and Avy are also among the startups to have tapped the African market.</ul>