Transportation is not always something we consider in the telecommunications sector, but the two overlap considerably. When it comes to energy consumption, their relationship must be closely examined to determine where efficiencies can be developed and leveraged for cost savings and an overall "greener" approach to doing business.

According to an Alcatel-Lucent (News - Alert) white paper, GeSI reports that the transportation sector accounts for 15 percent of total green house emissions throughout the world. Research suggests that smart motorways alone would reduce carbon emissions for a savings of $107.2 billion. How does this translate for telecom operators?

in 2007, traffic congestion required U.S.-based commuters to add 4.2 billion hours of travel time. This increased time meant increased fuel purchased; an extra 2.8 billion gallons in all. The overall congestion cost was $87.2 billion. If smart traffic control and smart traffic road management were introduced into the commuter's daily routine, significant savings could result.

Smart traffic routing has the ability to decrease gridlock and reduce accidents. In order to achieve smart traffic routing, drivers must have access to dynamic data. Smart traffic control systems actively monitor and update traffic flow patterns, proactively providing alternative routes before congestion can occur. This approach maximizes traffic flow and decreases emergency response time to accidents and breakdowns.

Implementation today of some smart traffic capabilities is possible, although additional infrastructure is necessary to maximize the technology. This infrastructure includes traffic detectors and cameras that must be deployed to provide end-to-end access, as well as user pay models in order to reduce traffic flow.

This approach is certainly preferred over optimizing traffic flow and is typically based on tracking vehicles using global positioning systems (GPS) and is billed on miles or kilometers traveled. Such a system was implemented in Stockholm, where a "congestion charge" that varies by time of day and regions entered.

This system has reduced the number of vehicles in the core of the city by 22 percent. It has also reduced the number of traffic accidents by 10 percent and exhaust emissions by 14 percent. In this situation, the telecom operator is not the primary service provider to the driver necessarily, but they do carry the traffic data and provide vital voice and smart collaboration services to staff in traffic management centers.

In such situations, the telecom operators provide a significant benefit to the metropolitan area and its inhabitants. The overall traffic flow is improved, emissions are reduced and accidents are minimized. Any charge associated with this service would be well worth the time and trouble saved in transportation.