Garmin is teaming with Inrix, leaders in the field of traffic intelligence technology, to provide up-to-the-minute traffic information across the DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast) network.

By leveraging the latest breakthroughs in DAB technology, Inrix will help Garmin deliver better, more detailed live traffic data, updated more frequently and without an internet connection.

This new generation of Garmin 3D Traffic Live will provide Garmin customers access to fully featured live traffic information without any subscription costs, meaning Garmin is able to offer subscription free live traffic services for life.

“We have seen, through the success of our satnavs with lifetime maps, that customers want a great service but do not want to worry about paying future subscriptions,” said Clive Taylor, director of EMEA product marketing.

“With this new technology Garmin customers will receive the latest live traffic information on their GPS device and not have to think about subscriptions anymore.”

Digital broadcasting offers two main advantages, in comparison to TMC (Traffic Message Channel) or the GSM network, which has been used so far to provide live traffic information, says Garmin.

It says that larger data volumes (about 80x higher bandwidth than TMC) are submitted, which results in traffic that is more accurate, covers a broader geographic area, and more detailed than previously possible over broadcast networks.

In addition, it says that it is increasing the speed of updating the live traffic information to every minute, over twice as fast in comparison to current services. This real time information provides drivers with earlier warning to traffic incidents helping them to avoid frustrating delays.

All the information, which finds its way to the Garmin GPS device, appears in an easy and clear way both visually and audibly.

Through sophisticated analysis of billions of real-time data points from hundreds of sources including a community of more than 100 million drivers, Inrix provides Garmin with traffic information accurate within 2 mph of actual traffic speeds.

Whether drivers’ travels take them across town or cross-country, Garmin customers will benefit from a service that provides them with the best route guidance and most accurate journey times.

The United Kingdom will be the first market where Garmin will introduce the new technology. This is expected to be on the recently announced Dezl 760 which is available at the end of the year.