Telecom network and software major Nokia today said it will be joining Bristol Is Open initiative, supporting its smart city program.
Nokia Bell Labs will provide consulting services to Bristol Is Open, while Nokia’s IP networking division will provide network and infrastructure support. Nokia’s application ecosystem program ngConnect will bring additional applications, ideas and companies into the BIO development program.
Bristol Is Open (BIO) is a joint venture between the University of Bristol and Bristol City Council and it is funded by local and national government and the European Union, along with academic research funding and financial backing from the private sector.
The operating system developed by Bristol University will dynamically host a machine-to-machine communication, allowing the development of a range of applications that are linked to the various sensors and actuators deployed across the city.
The BIO initiative promotes smart city growth within the UK and across Europe as governments seek to meet environmental targets.
Nokia plans to use this opportunity to test applications from Nokia Bell Labs’ innovations in video to environmental impact studies, healthcare and public safety. The first Nokia project in BIO will focus on video analytics on the city-wide CCTV system of over 1,700 cameras.
“This innovative program 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,” said Barry French, Nokia’s chief marketing officer.
