Paris, France & London, UK — Telefónica is partnering with JCDecaux, a leader in outdoor communications and self-service bicycles, for the development of a new range of smart machine-to-machine (M2M) based solutions for urban environments. The operator has also announced a deal with electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, Tesla to provide M2M connectivity for the Tesla Model S in Europe.
Telefónica’s M2M technologies will bring connectivity and new digital features to JCDecaux’s municipal information devices, digital screens and self-service bicycle stations in Europe and South America.
The new solutions will reportedly enable advertisers to enhance campaigns and bring the kind of innovation usually seen online to the outside world. For outdoor digital advertising, Telefonica’s M2M technology enables the transmission and reception of pre-recorded or real time advertising content on digital screens.
Municipal information messages can also be delivered through remote management features. This managed connectivity capability will save out-of-home advertising companies significant maintenance costs due to the continuous data flows reporting the status of the displays.
In shared bicycle schemes, Telefónica’s M2M devices offer remote tracking data for numerous parameters such as geolocation, mileage and usage. This data is collected and processed with business analytics techniques, helping companies and public administrations to efficiently manage urban bike fleets and save significant costs in unit losses and maintenance.
The scale and adoption rate of M2M solutions is increasing rapidly. There are already more than 4 million active M2M cards in France and there will be up to 20 billion objects connected by 2020 according to the GSMA. In 2004 only 92 million devices were connected worldwide. This continuous growth will not only generate substantial economic benefits, but will also play a significant role in improving resources and efficiency.
José Luis Gamo, CEO of the Multinational Business Unit of Telefónica Global Solutions, said: “This agreement with JCDecaux will allow us to provide M2M services internationally to the world’s leader outdoor advertising companies. Our solution will be available on a wide range of platforms, such as street furniture, self-service bike stations or digital screens, which represents a significant step forward in solutions for urban environments managed by our corporate and multinational customers.”
Telefónica offers end to end solutions through global connectivity in more than 40 countries across three continents. This connectivity is available in a variety of objects – from vehicles to street furniture.
Telefónica and M2M World Alliance partners to power
Tesla’s telematics and infotainment services
Telefonica and its M2M World Alliance partners will provide connectivity for Tesla‘s Model S across multiple countries in Europe, including in Germany and the United Kingdom on Telefonica’s O2 network, in Spain on Movistar, and in the Netherlands on KPN.
Telefónica’s global M2M solution, powered by Jasper, will enable connectivity for Tesla’s industry-leading in-car infotainment telematics including navigation, online music, and internet browsing, and remote vehicle diagnostics that relay information about the car’s safety, security and performance to the driver and Tesla service in real time.
The Tesla Model S, an award winning five-door saloon car, was launched in 2012, with deliveries beginning in Europe in 2013. Its state of the art features include remote driver support and a connected infotainment control centre. The 17 inch touchscreen puts rich content at the fingertips of drivers and passengers, seamlessly integrating media, navigation, communications, cabin controls and vehicle data.
The agreement, which establishes Telefonica as Tesla’s largest European connectivity partner, is supported by KPN in the Netherlands and Belgium as part of the M2M World Alliance, simplifying Tesla’s deployment of connected cars.
With its proven M2M technology, Telefónica’s services offer flexible and reliable connectivity solutions for Model S customers across Europe. The ability of Telefónica and KPN to work together locally will further improve the customer experience by maintaining a smaller pool of suppliers with a common M2M service.
Jose Luis Gamo, CEO at Telefonica Multinational Solutions, said: “As we accelerate our transformation into a digital telco we see lots of opportunities to empower consumers. Connected cars that provide drivers with more information and a better and safer driving experience is a perfect example of this. Tesla is one of the world’s most forward thinking and exciting businesses. We share their passion for innovation and are thrilled to be working with them to deliver a superb connected in-car experience to Tesla drivers across Europe.”
Peter Carlsson, vice-president of Supply Chain at Tesla added: “The full Model S experience requires reliable and flexible connectivity solution. Tesla looks forward to our partnership with Telefonica to provide our European customers with a whole new class of connected car.”
The Connected Car market will achieve mass-market penetration in the next few years. The number of vehicles with built-in connectivity will increase from 10 per cent of the overall market today to 90% by 2020, according to the Telefonica Connected Car Industry 2013 report, which features contributions from eight of the world’s largest car manufacturers.
Jimmy Wind, KPN’s managing director M2M / New Business, commented: “This is a great example of how the M2M World Alliance delivers simple and effective solutions to major multinational customers. We’re delighted to work with Telefonica supporting such a prestigious company as Tesla.”
