Comcast is expanding its Comcast Smart Solutions business offerings, which offer connectivity and consulting services to help with smart city technology. The offerings are supported by partnerships involving, lighting, parking/curb, building solutions, LED displays and digital kiosks.
Comcast Smart Solutions will also include solutions for various public works projects, such as waste management, stormwater monitoring and asset tracking, as well as for video/light detection and ranging (LiDAR) analytics.
The business unit will build on offerings from across Comcast, including solutions from Comcast Business, Xfinity Communities, and MachineQ.
Comcast Smart Solutions has already moved ahead with some projects. It recently worked with the city of Philadelphia for a pilot project to install smart streetlights with built-in optical and environmental sensors that can count pedestrians, vehicles, bicyclists, and parked vehicles, and measure temperature, relative humidity and carbon monoxide. Other projects under way include ones in Arlington County, VA; College Park, GA; Pleasanton, CA; and Moraga, CA.
“Comcast is focused on powering possibilities for organizations of all sizes,” said Bill Connors, president of Xfinity for Comcast Cable, in a prepared statement. “Comcast Smart Solutions is just the latest example of the innovation that our world-class network can bring to life. Rooted in our core connectivity services, we’re excited to partner with communities on their smart journeys, using technology to help make them more efficient, sustainable, and safe.”
Comcast is only one of several carriers getting involved in smart city projects as carriers attempt to leverage the desire for municipalities, campuses and similar entities to use smart technologies within their operations.
For example, AT&T has signed a letter of intent to provide its technology for JBG SMITH’s National Landing smart city project, which spans 6.8 million square feet of existing office space and 2,856 residential units, plus 7.2 million square feet of additional commercial, multi-family and retail development opportunities throughout the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.
Cox Communications is also pursuing smart city initiatives, among them a project with Henderson, NV, for smart lighting, smart water meters and smart parking.
