Cox and Arizona State University to Launch Connected Environments Collaboratory, Create Smarter Region

PHOENIX, Nov. 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Communications and Arizona State University (ASU) announced at the 2019 ASU Smart Region Summit flagship event their partnership to create the Cox Connected Environments Collaboratory at ASU. This collaboration will drive the development of Arizona's smart region infrastructure, delivering on the promise of ASU's Smart City Cloud Innovation Center (CIC) to build smarter communities in the greater Phoenix metropolitan region by solving pressing community challenges.

The Cox Connected Environments Collaboratory at ASU will aim to solve real challenges within the Greater Phoenix community and beyond in ways that are innovative and not readily available in the marketplace today.  As an incubation center and convening space, the Collaboratory aims to engage ASU students, staff, and faculty to design the next wave of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions that could, for example, optimize buildings for sustainability, provide new learning experiences in virtual and augmented reality, overhaul transportation infrastructure and more.

To power the Collaboratory, Cox will deploy a comprehensive wired and wireless network on campus as part of ASU's NextGen Network. The Collaboratory is another step forward for these efforts, engaging city leaders and citizens, non-profits, faculty, student researchers, industry experts, and visiting scholars to build the metropolis and regional infrastructure of the future.

"Cox is a trusted partner, and we are eager to see the Cox Connected Environments Collaboratory at ASU drive smart region applications that combine people, connected devices, data and processes to improve community operations and the citizen experience," said Lev Gonick, chief information officer, Arizona State University.

"Cox currently powers several smart city initiatives and communities today as the preferred data network of residents and business owners," said Steve Rowley, executive vice president, Cox Business. "Cox Business, combined with Cox2M, will bring new experiential capabilities to the campus and provide a space for all to innovate."

"Through our Cox2M business line, we will bring ASU students, staff and faculty the tools and capabilities to develop end-to-end solutions that can really make a difference," said Sujata Gosalia, executive vice president and chief strategy officer, Cox Communications. "We are excited to build the future together in this new collaborative environment."

As a founding partner of The Connective - Greater Phoenix Smart Region Consortium, Cox will also work with ASU to utilize the power of Cox's existing gigabit network and continue to extend its fiber infrastructure through aggressive investment to create a more connected region.

The Cox Connected Environments Collaboratory will reside in an Innovation Zone at ASU, spaces located across the Valley and ASU campuses that are dedicated to creating innovative solutions to global challenges. These Zones include SkySong, ASU Research Park, Novus Innovation Corridor and more, actively engaging schools, faculty, students, programs and initiatives.

"The spirit of innovation permeates everything we do here at ASU, and that philosophy extends to the ecosystems and resources we make available to our collaborators," said Sethuraman Panchanathan, executive vice president of Knowledge Enterprise and chief research and innovation officer at ASU. "New ideas and solutions to grand challenges are discovered when we partner at this level. Our Innovation Centers and Innovation Zones are prime examples of how these relationships are cultivated, and how the resulting benefits are realized by our communities."

"On behalf of the executive team of the Greater Phoenix Connective, we are grateful to have Cox Communications as a Founding Partner. The new Cox Connected Environments Collaboratory at ASU will allow us to experiment with new applications and technologies that will enable the development of a smart and connected region enhancing the quality of life for the citizens and businesses of the Greater Phoenix Region", said John Graham, Chairman of Partnership for Economic Innovation.

About Cox Communications
Cox Communications is committed to creating meaningful moments of human connection through broadband applications and services. The largest private telecom company in America, we proudly serve six million homes and businesses across 18 states. We're dedicated to empowering others to build a better future and celebrate diverse products, people, suppliers, communities and the characteristics that makes each one unique. Cox Communications is the largest division of Cox Enterprises, a family-owned business founded in1898 by Governor James M. Cox. 

About Cox Business
The commercial division of Cox Communications, Cox Business provides voice, data and video services for more than 355,000 small and regional businesses nationwide, including health care providers; K−12 and higher education; financial institutions; and federal, state and local government organizations. The organization also serves most of the top-tier wireless and wireline telecommunications carriers in the U.S. through its wholesale division. For more information, please visit www.coxbusiness.com.

About Cox2M
A new Cox Communications business line, Cox2M is committed to enabling truly connected environments by providing commercial Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to businesses and communities. Cox2M delivers the ability to monitor and track commercial assets, powering operational efficiencies and improved experiences for its customers. Cox2M's end-to-end solutions seamlessly integrate connectivity, hardware, software and analytics to solve customer problems. Cox2M currently serves the automotive sector and is broadening its focus to other business sectors, cities, and communities. 

About ASU:
Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American Research University, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it.

About The Connective
The Connective is a community-driven applied research model and intentional, unprecedented collaboration. Our smart region consortium of public, private, university, and community partners seek to empower Greater Phoenix communities and build the nation's largest, most connected, smart region grid, developing and deploying technology solutions at scale. For more information, please visit www.greaterphxconnective.com.

SOURCE Cox Communications