Skip to main content

Verizon plans to launch off-the-shelf telematics

‘Bringing connectivity to every vehicle’ was the vision Lowell McAdam (pictured), chairman and CEO of Verizon Communications put before delegates at the second plenary session. He said by 2017 there will be three times more networked devices than people in the world and such connectivity could radically alter transportation. “GE estimates that connected technologies have the potential to reduce the global transportation industry’s demand for fuel by 14%.”
September 10, 2014 Read time: 2 mins

‘Bringing connectivity to every vehicle’ was the vision Lowell McAdam (pictured), chairman and CEO of 1984 Verizon Communications put before delegates at the second plenary session.

He said by 2017 there will be three times more networked devices than people in the world and such connectivity could radically alter transportation. “GE estimates that connected technologies have the potential to reduce the global transportation industry’s demand for fuel by 14%.”

However, he said today Americans waste $120bn a year sitting in traffic, 30% of a city’s congestion is caused by people looking to park and only 7% of America’s 250 million vehicles are connected to communications networks.
 
McAdam told delegates: “At Verizon, we think the technology exists… to connect the vast majority of these vehicles to a wide range of intelligent services. We are committed to delivering an off-the-shelf solution that will bring the benefits of telematics to everyone next year.”  While acknowledging the work already undertaken he said: “we need to move beyond individual projects to think in a holistic way about integrating all these smart systems – connected cars, roads, buildings, power grids and communications – into a comprehensive intelligent ecosystem.” 

In pointing out President Obama’s comments that the US is the world’s largest economy but ranks 28th in terms of infrastructure investment, he issued a rallying call. “We have some decisions to make about how to invest in our future… and we’ve learned that investing in last century’s infrastructure may be cheaper in the short run but it’s way more costly in the long run.
“We need to fight for spectrum policies and tax laws that promote capital investment in the communications technologies on which intelligent transportation systems depend,” he concluded.

www.verizon.com

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Arup picks 8 ways ITS can save the planet
    January 6, 2022
    The solutions we need to accelerate carbon-free transport are known, available and ready to be deployed. Tim Gammons from Arup explains what the ITS industry can do now to help…
  • UK's TRL shows latest transport developments
    October 18, 2012
    UK-headquartered TRL (Transport Research Laboratory) will focus on three key areas at the ITS World Congress: adaptive traffic control and new software releases; its expertise in managed motorways and cooperative systems; and its growing presence and work across the EU. This is exemplified by TRL taking the premier position on the EU Safety Framework and its in-depth knowledge of vehicle road charging, which sees a team currently working on a European truck road charging scheme.
  • World Congress hosts first responders from southeast Michigan
    September 8, 2014
    ITS America welcomes the 2014 ITS World Congress to a busy schedule of special events this week. Tuesday has been declared Emergency Responder Day in an effort to put a spotlight on what first responders do on the scene of an accident and how ITS developments can help their life-saving efforts run smoother, faster and safer. Anyone in uniform will be granted entry to the World Congress for free throughout the day and can attend two special sessions focused on emergency response.
  • Big data bonus for Dublin’s buses
    August 19, 2014
    Dublin’s smart research partnership speeds buses More than 50% of people travelling into and across the Irish capital rely on public transport, and four out of 10 these use buses meaning Dublin Bus carries some 120 million passengers a year.