Building digital societies in Asia: Making transportation smarter

In collaboration with the GSMA’s Asia regional team, GSMA Intelligence is today publishing Building digital societies in Asia: Making transportation smarter. This report takes a deep dive into specific applications within a digital society, namely intelligent transportation. We analyse the potential benefits that arise from the effective use of ICT applications over mobile networks to better manage public and private transportation.

This is the second in a series of reports. The first report – Building digital societies in Asia – published in June 2015, analyses key enablers to realising the socioeconomic benefits of digitisation, focusing on the proposed plans of six key countries: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and Thailand.

As the world becomes increasingly connected, advanced applications known as intelligent transportation systems (ITS) provide innovative solutions to better manage traffic and enable users to make safer and smarter use of transport networks. As well as improving mobility, the environment and safety in the short term, ITS can result in long-term positive changes in commuter habits and encourage people to use safe and environmentally friendly ways of commuting. ITS applications include traveller information and traffic management solutions, transportation pricing and payment systems, pedestrian and vehicle safety applications, and travel-based applications that serve the sharing economy.

Among the key emerging markets in Asia, Thailand (and specifically the city of Bangkok) faces many transportation challenges around congestion and safety. Using a case-based approach, we analyse the potential impact of ITS on reducing commuting time, CO₂ emissions and road traffic accidents in the city of Bangkok.

We examine the roles of policy-makers, operators and other players in the ecosystem and the potential challenges to enabling successful implementation of ITS at scale. The report helps demonstrate to key stakeholders why smarter transportation matters, what actions should be taken and who should undertake such actions to realise the benefits.