The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Rice Rivers Center is leveraging the power of 5G technology to revolutionize conservation efforts for the endangered Atlantic sturgeon. T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) announced that VCU is utilizing its 5G network to protect this ancient species while setting a new standard for environmental preservation along the James River.
Once nearly driven to extinction, the sturgeon population in the James River near Richmond, Virginia, remains at risk from power plant cooling water intake systems. Thanks to advanced tracking technology using telemetry receivers, particularly with tagged female sturgeon, the Rice Rivers Center can now notify power plants when these fish enter their spawning habitat. This allows the plants to reduce or halt water intake, helping to protect the vulnerable species during egg-laying periods.
T-Mobile’s award-winning 5G network plays a critical role in the Center’s conservation efforts by connecting acoustic receivers to an aquatic hub, enabling real-time tracking of sturgeon movements even in remote areas. Additionally, T-Mobile’s IoT Control Center streamlines SIM card management in the receivers, enhancing data transmission, reporting, and device oversight. These capabilities improve research accuracy and operational efficiency, resulting in more effective conservation outcomes.
“The partnership with T-Mobile has digitally transformed our efforts to protect the endangered Atlantic sturgeon,” said Matt Balazik, Ph.D., Research Faculty at VCU Rice Rivers Center. “Real-time data enables us to make critical, informed decisions that directly safeguard the species while also educating future environmental stewards.”
“At T-Mobile, we believe in the power of technology to create meaningful impact, and our collaboration with VCU is a great example,” said George Fischer, SVP of Sales, T-Mobile Business Group. “By enabling secure real-time data transmission, we’re helping protect critical habitats and educate the next generation. Together, we’re setting new benchmarks for environmental sustainability, ensuring these ancient fish thrive in the James River for years to come.”
Enhancing Education and Outreach
The Center’s project, now the largest real-time acoustic telemetry system on the U.S. East Coast, is making a global impact. The telemetry data is shared with researchers worldwide, including those at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), and is used in local schools to introduce students to conservation through live sturgeon-tracking demonstrations.
VCU is also developing a website to give students and educators access to past telemetry data, integrating it into lesson plans and environmental research projects.
Looking Ahead with AI
The Rice Rivers Center is exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze telemetry data and predict sturgeon movements more accurately. While current predictions forecast only a day or two in advance, future AI developments could provide power companies with additional time to adjust water intake systems, further protecting the sturgeon population.
Connected by T-Mobile, this forward-thinking project will continue to evolve, helping to secure the sturgeon’s future in the James River.
For more information about the VCU Rice Rivers Center, visit www.ricerivers.vcu.edu. To learn more about T-Mobile IoT solutions, visit www.t-mobile.com/business/solutions/iot.
