Verizon to Power Vay’s Remote Driving Fleet in Las Vegas

Remote driving company Vay Technology has confirmed it will use 5G connectivity from Verizon Business for its fleet of vehicles in Las Vegas.

The German firm launched commercial operations in the city earlier this year, and has now done a deal with the comms giant to handle the huge amounts of data which are generated by its teleoperated fleet.

Vay’s “remote driving” concept differs from the self-driving taxis operated by the likes of Waymo which have become a familiar sight in San Francisco and Phoenix over the past couple of years.

The Vay approach allows users to order a Kia EV through its app, which is then delivered – without occupants – to the desired pick-up location. To get there, the vehicle is remotely controlled by a human at Vay’s teledrive center, who uses conventional controls such as a steering wheel and pedals.

Once in the vehicle the customer drives the car until they reach their desired destination, when they end the rental – by app – and the teleoperator takes over again.

The connection to the car is via cellular network, which is where the agreement with Verizon comes in, with its high-performance, low-latency 5G connectivity helping to enable this model of operation.

But beyond facilitating the remote control of the car, Verizon connectivity also allows for the transmission of telematics or diagnostic information from vehicles to Vay and its customers, as well as the delivery of over-the-air updates to the software and firmware in the vehicles.

Related:New Remote Driving Service Launches in the US

The deal will also cover custom data plans for Vay.

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Thomas von der Ohe, Vay’s co-founder and CEO, said that securing the partnership was an important step for the company.

He explained: “Verizon’s technology has been critical for Vay’s entry into the U.S. market from Europe, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with them as we expand our commercial and B2B businesses.

“Verizon’s coverage, performance and network reliability are essential for handling the data load inherent to teleoperating our fleet to the highest standards of safety and capability.”

TJ Fox, senior vice president, Verizon Business, added: “Vay’s unique operational model shows the importance of mobile connectivity for the future of transportation. From Vay’s app-based user interface to their high-tech teledriving command centers to the vehicle fleet itself, connectivity touches all corners of the business.

“Verizon’s coverage, performance and network reliability are essential for handling the data load inherent to teleoperating our fleet to the highest standards of safety and capability.”

Related:Remote Control ‘Teledriving’ Arrives in Europe