Chief Executive Officer of the United Parcel Service United States Logistics, better known as UPS, David Abney, said today that the use of drones remains limited in delivery.

He said, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, held in the Swiss town of Davos, "I am not one of those who believe that we will have a hundred thousand drones flying around our major cities and connecting toothpaste and things like that."

He added: "I really think it will be available in urgent (uses) that need rapid intervention," referring for example to the assembly lines of factories that need a particular piece as well as medical shipments.

He explained that his company, which has already started using drones to transport supplies to health care sectors in African countries, could apply this technology to deliver medical care supplies to homes.

For his part, CEO of the US "Verizon" communications company, Hans Westburg, pointed out the need to set standards for transportation and communication services providers, and to establish a common base for operating drones.