AirPrime® HL Series modules provide Parkeon with global reach, scalability and efficiency for urban mobility solutions worldwide.
Sierra Wireless today announced that Parkeon, a global leader in parking, transit and urban mobility solutions, has selected Sierra Wireless AirPrime® HL Series embedded modules to enable cellular connectivity in smart parking deployments worldwide. The next-generation smart parking kiosks from Parkeon are already being deployed in North America and Europe.
The two companies have a long-standing relationship, and Parkeon selected Sierra Wireless based on the company’s expertise in wireless solutions for Smart City applications. The HL Series modules provide scalability across 2G, 3G and 4G technologies, and allow for worldwide deployments by enabling a path to LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) network connectivity and low power consumption for solar-powered parking meters.
“Smarter parking management is a key requirement for many city managers,” said Dan Schieler, Senior Vice President, OEM Solutions for Sierra Wireless. “Municipalities today are trying to improve their operating efficiencies while also managing increasing levels of traffic. Our continued collaboration with Parkeon using the HL8548 and HL7588 LTE modules allows Parkeon to deliver cost-effective solutions that meet the varying needs of any smart city deployment.”
Businesses within the vicinity of Parkeon’s smart parking kiosks can offer customized coupons and special deals, creating new revenue streams, and citizens will also have a more convenient way of paying their fines. Parkeon also introduced a very innovative mobile parking service through its Whoosh! app, allowing citizens to pay for parking through their phones, tablets, or computers.
Bertrand Barthelemy, CEO of Parkeon added: “Parkeon has a strong history of delivering innovative parking solutions and is thrilled to be working with Sierra Wireless to bring value-added services.”
“Our parking meters are now interactive kiosks, delivering services and connecting people.”
The HL Series from Sierra Wireless uses the CF3™ form factor, which is footprint-compatible across product lines and network technologies, and is fully interchangeable with future modules, including LTE-M variants when they become available.
LTE-M is an LPWA technology that will provide a highly efficient cellular option with lower radio-frequency complexity, significantly reduced power consumption (up to 10 years of service on a single AA battery), better in-building signal penetration and lower costs. Sierra Wireless is an active contributor to the LTE-M standards definition process within the 3GPP and has committed to launching compatible modules timed with network deployments expected to begin in 2017.