Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) technology will soon allow the remote tracking of vehicles, which the minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology says will improve domestic security. Minister Atef Helmy reviewed plans to implement an Automatic Vehicle Location system on Sunday. The system will be run and operated by Vodafone Egypt, in conjunction with the Egyptian Tracking and Information Technology services company. It will allow companies and individuals to follow and track the movement of vehicles using AVL technology. The launch ceremony was attended by a number of leaders from within the telecommunications and information technology sectors. Helmy stated that the launch of the project was part of an attempt to keep up with developments in telecommunications and information technology and to better meet the needs of the domestic market. He added that this includes improving the efficiency of transport, tourist and postal services, as well as vehicles involved in the transfer of petroleum and other supply resources. AVL technology could provide the best protection for all vehicles at the lowest cost, he said, which could help encourage and increase investment in a number of sectors. It would also provide jobs. Helmy added that such technology will be made available to all mobile service providers in Egypt. The minister said such technology could help stabilise the country's internal security, and decrease traffic and congestion. He further discussed plans to equip all ambulances, rescue and police vehicles, metro and railways lines, freight transport fleets and marine facilities used to protect coral reefs with the technology. Other vehicles which could benefit from such technology include taxis, tourist buses, armoured trucks and government transport vehicles. Such technology could be used to better protect valuable state resources by using it to track the movement of vehicles and crack down on auto theft crimes, he noted. AVL services operate based on GPS and GSM modem technology. In the case of auto thefts, AVL technology will send SMS messages to vehicle owners, with information detailing the current location of their vehicle. Additionally, the technology allows owners to determine the speed and rate of fuel consumption of their vehicles while they drive. It may also allow transportation companies to best identify specific routes to take when travelling, with company administrators being notified via SMS if vehicles divert from their designated routes.
