Partner News: Swedish Road Administration chooses Destia as TMC service provider

Date: 26 June 2008

Since 1998, ERTICO Partner, the Swedish Road Administration (SRA) has been the service provider for RDS-TMC (Radio Data System -Traffic Message Channel) services. The SRA’s strategy is to develop solutions that are then taken over and developed by commercial actors. The SRA has therefore decided to seek a commercial actor – in this case Destia Traffic – to continue the development of RDS TMC. The SRA will sign a contract with Destia Traffic to provide RDS-TMC services in Sweden, allowing them to take-over the SRA´s contract with Teracom. Destia Traffic will provide commercial services in Sweden. The SRA will maintain the national RDS-TMC location database and distribute it free of charge to any RDS-TMC actor.

RDS-TMC is a European success story that is becoming a worldwide service and is now a standard feature in most vehicle navigation systems. In Europe services are provided by both public and private actors.
 
“One of the Swedish Road Administration's tasks is to develop technology for the road transport system. When a market has evolved it is time for commercial actors to take over. In this case we have developed RDS-TMC technology and now Destia Traffic will continue to commercialise it on a broader market and take over responsibility for further development”, says Director-General of the Swedish Road Administration Ingemar Skogö.

Destia Traffic is the leading supplier of traffic information services in Finland and is currently expanding services to Nordic and Baltic countries. At present Destia Traffic broadcasts the TMC service in Finland.
 
“Our aim is to operate and produce the best available traffic information in all countries where we operate. We will start broadcasting the TMC service in Norway in June and in Sweden at the end of the summer. Destia Traffic will soon be able to provide a unified TMC service region covering Finland, Sweden and Norway. This harmonised geographical distribution of TMC services is a unique offering”, says Sampo Hietanen, Director at Destia.

The RDS-TMC service broadcasts up-to-date information on incidents, accidents, congestion, major roadworks etc. The TMC service also reports dangerous road surface conditions like ice or snowstorms.

“Real-time information helps in the forecasting of traffic conditions, which has a direct impact on traffic safety. The correct choice of route and information received in advance about what is happening along the route saves time, money and the environment and makes travelling more pleasant. With such information at hand, the motorist can avoid traffic jams, thus reducing emissions and fuel costs”, continues Mr. Hietanen.