Innovation & Technology Innovation & Technology

AT&T Launches Smart Cities Framework with New Alliances, Integrated Vertical Solutions

AT&T is building a framework to help cities better serve their citizens. The tech giant is using Internet of Things (IoT) innovations to create impactful solutions for cities and forming alliances with technology leaders and industry organizations.

By Sustainable Brands | Published 8 years ago | About a 3 minute read

AT&T is building a framework to help cities better serve their citizens. The tech giant is using Internet of Things (IoT) innovations to create impactful solutions for cities and forming alliances with technology leaders and industry organizations.

AT&T has formed alliances with Cisco, Deloitte, Ericsson, GE, IBM, Intel and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. to help support the new framework, which will pilot in several initial spotlight cities and universities including Atlanta, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Chicago and Dallas.

“Atlanta is a great city and, thanks to our collaboration with AT&T, it will soon be a smarter city,” said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. “Improving sustainability and increasing public safety are already top priorities for the City of Atlanta. With the integration of AT&T’s Smart City solutions, we will be better positioned to support these initiatives while also enriching the lives of our residents.”

“From water system sensors to advanced analytics and energy efficiency efforts, Chicago has already taken steps to become a Smart City,” said Brenna Berman, CIO of the City of Chicago. “We are excited to team with AT&T to help us harness the power of near real-time information to create a safer, cleaner and more efficient city.”

“We’ve built strong relationships with cities across the U.S. for over 100 years,” said Mike Zeto, general manager of Smart Cities, AT&T IoT Solutions. “Our holistic strategy can help cities save money, conserve energy, improve quality of life, and further engage with their citizens.”

IoT Innovations

AT&T’s work with IoT has already helped communities solve problems with solutions that connect utility meters, streetlights, and water systems. The new framework adds several new categories:

Infrastructure — Cities can remotely monitor the conditions of roads, bridges, buildings, parks and other venues. Maintenance crews can identify slick roadways during freezing weather or detect bridges that may need repairs.
Citizen Engagement — Mobile apps give people information to stay better prepared — ex: notifying people in near real-time if a traffic light isn’t working, or allowing them to remotely view parking meters and reserve spaces ahead of time.
Transportation — Digital signage lets commuters know in near real-time when the next bus or train will arrive. People can rent electric bikes at stations across the city to reduce traffic.
Public Safety — Cities can better manage traffic patterns of pedestrians at stadiums, parks, and busy intersections. Gun-fire detection technology helps law enforcement know where shootings occur, helps them determine the number of people involved and rounds fired.

AT&T is also developing a new digital dashboard that gives cities a high-level look at their communities’ conditions. The Smart City Network Operation Center (SC-NOC) offers cities a dashboard view of how assets are performing in near-real time. City officials can keep tabs on power outages, water leaks, traffic issues, and more — all from one location.

AT&T recently joined Envision America, a new smart cities program under Envision Charlotte, helping cities become smarter and driving technologies that tackle energy, water, waste, and air challenges. The AT&T Foundry for IoT innovation center in Plano, TX also helps foster collaboration to advance cutting-edge smart city technologies.

AT&T has created a new report to share how businesses can best use the Internet of Things to help cut costs, grow revenues, boost efficiency and satisfy customers.