It says something about how far T-Mobile’s coverage has come in the 5G era in the US; the AAA automobile club for roadside assistance and other travel services has selected T-Mobile as its exclusive partner for its technicians and vehicles across the country. T-Mobile will provide 5G smartphones and IoT telematics equipment for AAA-owned roadside assistance fleets; it has already issued “thousands” of 5G handsets to AAA technicians, it said.

AAA, formerly the American Automobile Association, has around 63 million members, and takes around 30 million calls each year for roadside assistance. T-Mobile is supplying in-vehicle tablets to give roadside assistance technicians access to “important applications and utilities”; a press statement referred to “integrated maps for wayfinding and precise location of members in distress”, plus electronic forms to reduce paperwork and processing. 

The tablets will also enable voice applications for dispatch and communications. There is an IoT angle, as well; T-Mobile will supply IoT fleet equipment from telematics hardware supplier Geotab, connected on its LTE-M network, to provide “actionable data and reports” on driver behavior, route optimization, fuel economy, plus vehicle health, diagnostics, and maintenance.  

AAA thinks T-Mobile’s network passes muster in terms of coverage and reliability; it repeated boilerplate claims about “trusted membership”, “best-in-class” assistance, and “unwavering” safety, and said the addition of 5G handsets and telematics gear will improve its performance and save loves. “Moments matter for the safety of tow providers, emergency responders, and travelers on the side of… busy roads,” a joint statement said.

On the point about saving lives, with high-performing comms and analytics data, it quoted a statistic from the Federal Highway Administration, that the likelihood of a secondary crash goes up by 2.8 percent for each minute the primary accident continues to be a hazard. The statement said: “To help reduce time spent at the side of the road, AAA will rely on the 5G network that covers more US highway miles than any other carrier.”

Margaret Pittelkow, vice president of automotive at AAA, said: “Our top priority is to keep our members and our roadside assistance providers safe. To do this, we have to respond to calls for help quickly. It’s why we chose T-Mobile as our exclusive wireless partner. We know that with their fast and reliable 5G network, we can take our service to the next level.” 

Callie Field, president of T-Mobile’s business group, said: “This relationship brings together two marquee brands that are deeply committed to customer satisfaction. This powerful combination is introducing improved experiences that can only be backed by the fastest wireless network and greatest road-side assistance program.” T-Mobile customers can get free AAA membership for 12 months, as part of the deal.