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Air: the next frontier for the internet of thingsNEW YORK, Oct. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The internet of things (IoT) is taking flight at Verizon. The company today announced its strategy to drive innovation and wide-spread adoption for in-flight wireless connectivity through its Airborne LTE Operations (ALO) initiative. Two years in the making, Verizon's plan includes:
Commercial connectivity trials In 2016, Verizon evolved its Airborne LTE Operations even further by engaging American Aerospace Technologies Inc. (AATI) to test connectivity between aerial platforms and Verizon's 4G LTE network. The initial controlled trial was conducted with a 17-foot wingspan unmanned aircraft system in conjunction with AATI. The aerial platform tested advanced aerial inspection techniques that can be applied not just to the hundreds of miles of pipeline in rural Virginia, but also nationwide while connecting to Verizon's 4G LTE network. "This latest trial demonstrated how emerging technology combined with wireless networks can improve safety and security," said Mike Haberman, vice president, Network Operations, Verizon. "A nationwide reliable 4G LTE network is the foundation for the future of mobile IoT in the air." As a result of the successful trial, Verizon deemed its 4G LTE 700 MHz network safe for in-flight wireless connectivity, which led to the creation of device and service requirements as part of Verizon's ALO initiative. Together with AATI, Verizon i also exploring next steps in in-flight cellular services for UAVs nationally on its 4G LTE network. Once federal regulations allow UAV operation beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), new tests will focus on BVLOS command-and-control cellular network communications for long-distance UAVs. Path forward for certification "In our view, no one else in the industry has taken the kind of holistic approach of extending the reach of 4G LTE and IoT like Verizon," said Mike Lanman, senior vice president of Enterprise Products and IoT at Verizon. "While other market participants are only just now getting into this space by launching trials within a limited geographical footprint, Verizon has taken a leadership role for the last two years." "By scaling the systems required to connect UAS and UAVs to our LTE network nationwide through our ALO initiative, we've set the stage for a wide range of applicable solutions to be delivered via our ThingSpace open development platform across multiple sectors," Lanman added. Imagine a world where:
Investing in the future In December 2015, the AUVSI invited Verizon's Chief Data Scientist, Ashok Srivastava, to speak at a Capitol Hill briefing in Washington DC to help legislators understand future-looking issues around UAVs, including UAS Traffic Management (UTM). Verizon Labs continues to contribute to the larger UAV ecosystem by supporting policy efforts of the SUAVC, AUVSI and other industry groups, as well as participating in trials conducted under the Federal Aviation Administration's Pathfinder initiative and NASA's UTM program. Additionally, Verizon Ventures has invested in this space with portfolio companies that include:
In the second-quarter 2016, revenue from Verizon's internet of things business grew 25% totaling $205 million and approximately $400 million year-to-date June 2016. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York City, has a diverse workforce of nearly 162,700 and generated nearly $132 billion in 2015 revenues. Verizon operates America's most reliable wireless network, with 113.2 million retail connections nationwide. The company also provides communications and entertainment services over mobile broadband and the nation's premiere all-fiber network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers worldwide. VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: News releases, feature stories, executive biographies and media contacts are available at Verizon's online News Center at www.verizon.com/news/. News releases are also available through an RSS feed. To subscribe, visit www.verizon.com/about/rss-feeds/. Media contacts: Howie Waterman Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160527/373129LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/air-the-next-frontier-for-the-internet-of-things-300340539.html SOURCE Verizon |