Smart Traffic Light for the Arctic
In the polar night and amid heavy snowdrifts, being able to clearly see traffic signals becomes a matter of safety. Shvabe Holding has unveiled a system that is not only adapted to the harsh climate but could also become part of an intelligent urban network, collecting data on traffic and environmental conditions.
At the fourth Arktika – Regiony (Arctic – Regions) Forum, held in August 2026, Shvabe Holding, part of Rostekh (Rostec State Corporation), presented its next-generation DS10 traffic light, adapted to operate at the extremely low temperatures of Russia’s Far North. The debut marked an important milestone for Russia’s intelligent transportation infrastructure, signaling a shift from one-off experimental prototypes to mass-produced equipment ready to operate in some of the most challenging climatic conditions.
The main engineering feature developed by the E.S. Yalamov Ural Optical and Mechanical Plant (UOMZ) is a full-size RGB LED matrix. Unlike conventional traffic lights, it keeps signals clearly visible from long distances even when visibility is poor, including during snowfall or fog. An additional LED strip running along the poles mirrors the signals, helping drivers navigate during the polar night and in bad weather. Pedestrians get a display with large, illuminated pictograms.
But the technology goes well beyond lighting. Its IT architecture is equally important – the DS10 is modular and can serve as a collection point for digital data. Surveillance cameras and environmental monitoring sensors can be easily integrated into the traffic light. That means a single device at an intersection can regulate traffic, monitor road conditions, record violations and measure air pollution at the same time. Instead of simply directing traffic flows, it can become a full-fledged node in a city information network under the Umny gorod (Smart City) project.
From Intersection to Ecosystem
Russia is developing its own intelligent transportation infrastructure designed to operate at northern latitudes. The DS10’s future is closely tied to the digitization of transportation infrastructure in northern cities in particular. Its open architecture and support for additional modules could turn the traffic light into a key component of a distributed urban monitoring system. Eventually, a network of such devices could collect vast amounts of data on traffic flows and environmental conditions, giving city authorities information they can use to make management decisions in real time.
The technology also has considerable export potential. According to Shvabe reports, UOMZ supplied 2,211 traffic lights in 2024 alone, with a significant share – 1,494 units – shipped to Kazakhstan. Cold-resistant versions of its traffic lights, including the DS10, could find demand in other countries and regions with cold climates, creating opportunities for further export growth.
Heading North
The traffic light underwent its first trial deployment back in 2022 at a busy intersection in Miass and was later tested in Zlatoust. Even then, the device was designed with Umny gorod integration in mind, supporting remote management, graphical information displays and connections to additional modules.
By 2024–2025, the DS10 and DS7 Neo models had moved from testing to commercial deliveries across Russian regions with harsh climates. Finally, its 2026 appearance at the Arctic forum positioned the DS10 as a key infrastructure option for Russia’s Far North, where its digital capabilities and resistance to extreme cold are particularly valuable.
A Platform for Growth
The DS10 presentation at the Arktika – Regiony forum reflects the evolution of Russia’s smart traffic-light platform and its deeper digital integration – from connections with Umny gorod systems to collecting data on traffic volumes and environmental conditions. The Arctic version of the DS10 has a far stronger foundation for scaling than an experimental technology without real-world deployment. It turns a network of intersections into a distributed monitoring system, moving northern Russian communities closer to genuinely smart cities.
