Telekom Slovenije, Slovenia's national telecommunications operator, runs its own NB-IoT network. In 2023 it added Fleximodo parking guidance signage to that network: a solar-powered flip-dot display that shows drivers how many spaces are free, with no power cable and no wired data line.
How the project developed
2023: choosing a sign that needs no grid connection. The brief was to show live parking availability to drivers at places where running power to a sign would mean civil works. A conventional LED sign draws power all the time. A flip-dot sign only uses energy when a pixel physically flips, then holds the image mechanically. With a solar cell, that makes off-grid operation possible.
September 2023: specification and delivery. Telekom Slovenije took a 3-digit IoT Parking Guidance Signage unit with NB-IoT connectivity. The display is high-contrast with a reflective coating, so it stays readable in direct sunlight. The sign connects to Fleximodo's IoT Hub, which processes occupancy data and sends the current count to the display.
On the operator's own network. Because the sign talks over NB-IoT, the operator did not need to install a gateway or a separate network. The same cellular network it sells to IoT customers carries the sign's updates.
Lessons for similar sites
- Match the sign to the power situation. Where there is no power at the kerb, a solar flip-dot sign avoids trenching and cabling altogether.
- Use the network you already have. For an operator or a city with good NB-IoT coverage, a cellular sign is the fastest route: mount it, power it from the sun, connect it.
- Plan the data source first. A guidance sign is only as good as the count behind it. Decide which parking sensors or car park systems will feed the number before choosing sign locations.
- Keep the display simple. A 3-digit count is enough for most approach roads: drivers need one number, readable at speed.
For comparable signage projects, see Trento and Ibbenbüren. Cities planning a full system can start at our municipal solutions page.
Takeaway: where power is the obstacle, a solar flip-dot sign on an existing NB-IoT network puts live parking counts in front of drivers without civil works.