Nokia has joined the smart city initiative Bristol is Open (BIO) and will provide network and infrastructure support, as well as collaboration and consulting services.
The Finnish vendor’s first BIO project will focus on video analytics on the city-wide CCTV system of over 1,700 cameras. It will also test a range of video, environmental impact, healthcare and public safety innovations.
BIO, a joint venture between the University of Bristol and Bristol City Council, is looking to put sensors, within smartphones and GPS units, into the hands of locals to provide data on city life, including on energy usage, air quality and traffic flows.
The new data will be carried on three new “fast networks” in the city centre, developed by Bristol University. New smart city applications will be linked to and developed around these sensors.
Nokia said parties involved in the project will also be able to tap into its ngConnect programme, which brings together start-ups to collaborate on solution concepts, business models and market trials.
Nokia’s Bell Labs arm is already involved with BIO in the area of photonics.
Barry French, Chief Marketing Officer at Nokia, said: “There is a great deal of talk around smart cities, but there are not many places where talk has led to action. This innovative programme will show what can be achieved by bringing together experts from various technology areas to deliver integrated solutions that actually improve people’s lives, a fundamental principle driving our everyday work.”
Barney Smith, Chief Executive Officer of BIO, added: “The skills and experience that Nokia has will enable us to take BIO to the next stage of its development: solving real world problems for citizens and creating opportunity for all.”
The BIO project covers integrated technology solutions for such civic challenges as traffic congestion, air pollution, and assisted living for the elderly, and has also seen trials of self-driving cars. The venture has seen Bristol establish itself as one of the UK’s leading ‘smart cities’.
Japanese technology firm NEC joined the project in March last year, tasked with creating a smart city platform based on software defined networking.
In March, Nokia started work on a smart city project for Dubai’s government security networks operator to enable emergency services support, e-government, transportation and healthcare.
Nokia also announced a collaboration with BT in August to develop 5G use cases and trials, with the objective of expediting smart city technologies and applications.