The second largest mobile operator in the US, AT&T has formed alliances with Cisco, Deloitte, Ericsson, GE, IBM, Intel, and Qualcomm Technologies to form a new smartcity framework leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT). AT&T which has already started a few programs under its smartcity initiatives adds several new categories under the framework - infrastructure, citizen engagement, transportation and public safety, detailed as:
- Infrastructure: Cities are able to remotely monitor the condition of roads, bridges, buildings, parks and other venues.
- Citizen Engagement: Mobile apps to provide a near real-time traffic condition and parking availability.
- Transportation: Digital signage lets commuters know in near real-time when the next bus or train will arrive.
- Public Safety: Cities can better manage traffic patterns of pedestrians at stadiums, parks, and busy intersections.
AT&T is also developing a new digital dashboard that will be hosted in its Smart City Network Operation Center (SC-NOC). The dashboard provides cities a high-level view of how assets are performing in near-real time.
Mike Zeto, general manager of Smart Cities, AT&T IoT Solutions
We’ve built strong relationships with cities across the U.S. for over 100 years. We’re continuing to be a leader in smart cities innovation. Our holistic strategy can help cities save money, conserve energy, improve quality of life, and further engage with their citizens.
John Levis, principal, technology, media and telecommunications practice, Deloitte Consulting
Substantial attention has been paid internationally to how new technological innovations can be used to solve the problem of modern cities. The combination of AT&T's mobility and cloud networking solutions seamlessly enable almost every aspect of the smart city vision.
Image by Nico2panama (Own work) [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
