Verizon Business, a telecommunications company, has received a task order from the National Weather Service.
Under the nearly $80 million task order, Verizon will aim to leverage its network systems to help the NWS provide weather, water, climate and forecast data, the Washington, D.C.-based company said Monday.
Michael Adams, Verizon’s associate vice president for federal civilian services, said, “We’re proud to partner with the National Weather Service in their mission to keep our communities safe.”
Verizon will seek to increase the cost-effectiveness of NWS’s services, reduce the total cost of ownership, improve network performance and manageability and incorporate new technologies throughout NWS’ roadmap.
“Through the modernization of network infrastructure, we can help enhance the capabilities of this vital federal agency as they continue to provide timely and reliable – and in some cases, life-saving – weather information to the American public,” Adams added.
Verizon also serves as a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, and NWS ambassador to advance the nation’s capabilities against extreme weather, water and climate events.
Recently, Verizon Frontline and the NOAA collaborated in a three-year cooperative research and development agreement, or CRADA, to examine the deployment of uncrewed aircraft systems that could collect imagery of damages caused by severe storms.