Home Vodafone and Philips to help cities cut lighting costs

Vodafone and Philips to help cities cut lighting costs

Vodafone has announced a partnership with Philips Lighting, a subsidiary of Royal Philips, that aims to enhance the company’s LED street light management system.

The mobile carrier will provide an Internet of Things (IoT) network – in the form of an machine-to-machine (M2M) SIM card – inside every street light. The SIM card will provide engineers and managers with key information on the street light, and also allow them to monitor, manage, and identify faults in the grid or a single street light.

It is not the first time Vodafone’s M2M network has been used. In one example, Vodafone launched smart bins in a city that alerted the refuse fleet only when the bin was nearly full, reducing the amount of emissions by 18 percent.

Vodafone hasn’t announced which cities yet

Philips already provides a street light management system, which has been adopted by Los Angeles, London, and Madrid, but Vodafone’s M2M network provides more information on each individual street light.

“Just less than 12 percent of the world’s street lights are LED and less than two percent are connected. We are at the start of a new era which will see highly energy efficient connected street lighting become the backbone of most smart cities,” said Philips Lighting head of strategy and marketing, Bill Bien. “Robust and reliable wireless connectivity will help make this happen, linking streetlights with sensors, devices and management systems.”

See Also: The Hue and Cry Over Philips’ Not-So-Smart Move

In the press release, Philips Lighting and Vodafone did not make it clear what cities will be first to receive the M2M network. The system is operational in a few big cities, and it may take some time for a SIM card to be installed in every street light.

Philips Lighting claims that cities save 70 percent more energy when using the street light management system, and it we might see further savings once Vodafone activates its M2M network. The Climate Group backs Philips up, supporting the global rollout of LED street lights that would reduce CO2 emissions by 52 percent.

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.