The future of 5G and IoT in smart cities

Simply put, a "smart city" leverages emerging technologies such as 5G and the Internet of Things to create and deliver connected solutions for the well-being of communities. While innovations in 5G technology alone will not lead to the development of smart cities, the new 5G infrastructure greatly expands the opportunities for cities to leverage smart devices, sensors, and data to improve operations and functionality.

Thanks to 5G, the latest wireless technology, everything from smart sensors to self-driving cars can now communicate at incredible speeds, with low latency, and without being tethered to Ethernet cables, making systems and resources more efficient.

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So, why is 5G technology so important to the development of smart cities?

• Public safety and security. Emergency responders will be able to locate and receive real-time information about incidents and emergency calls from smart sensors placed throughout the city.

• Mobility. 5G networks will provide faster and lower-latency connections to public transportation systems, making it easier for autonomous vehicles and people to navigate cities.

• Traffic management. The combination of 5G networks and IoT devices is expected to intelligently track and manage traffic flows, monitor road conditions, and reduce traffic congestion.

• Energy efficiency. 5G creates huge opportunities for connected devices within buildings and cities to help track, monitor, and control energy. This helps buildings and cities better manage their energy supply, save money, and become more sustainable.

Internet of Things

As 5G technology develops, the Internet of Things (IoT) is a key aspect of achieving a true, fully operational smart city. Simply put, the IoT is a network of connected devices that are able to communicate and exchange data - this can be anything from a connected car to a street light sensor. IoT technology provides businesses, cities and individuals with the ability to monitor, manage and control these connected devices, while also collecting real-time data, analysis and insights.

Some IoT applications in smart cities include:

• Energy Management
• Air Quality Management
• Traffic Monitoring and Management
• Networked public transport
• Connected Street Lights
• Weather monitoring
• Waste Management

Integration of Smart Buildings and Smart Cities

As the Internet of Things becomes more prevalent, smart buildings are becoming a bigger and bigger component of smart cities. While building owners and managers are always looking for new and better ways to reduce costs and improve energy efficiency, recent technological advancements have made traditional building management systems (BMS) obsolete. Why? Not only do wire-driven networks in buildings quickly reach their data limits, they also lead to higher costs and more complexity. Today, smart buildings can leverage wireless technology, IoT devices, building automation, and data analytics to evaluate and monitor processes while also operating more cost-effectively and efficiently.

Through IoT sensors, automation and remote management, building owners and managers can deploy a variety of devices throughout their facilities to gain real-time data and insights into building management and functionality, giving them unparalleled visibility into their building’s operations. Specific to energy efficiency, facility owners and managers can now see exactly how and where energy is being used throughout the building.

In addition to energy efficiency, wireless IoT sensors can monitor facility health and air quality. As people begin to return to offices, monitoring facility health and air quality is extremely important. In this regard, IoT sensors ensure that building managers and businesses maintain a healthy work environment through advanced systems.

Finally, in terms of data, managing IoT security at scale is critical. To ensure that IoT devices and networks remain secure and operational, asset management is essential as it provides regular and necessary IoT security assessments.

Summarize

Both 5G and IoT are key components in transforming the way cities connect and operate. With the unlimited potential of IoT and the incredibly fast speeds and low latency of 5G, these technologies unlock critical infrastructure for the connected communities of the future.

Thanks to the rollout and adoption of 5G and IoT, the smart cities of the future will be smarter than ever before, providing endless opportunities for communities to harness the power of edge computing, data, and machine-to-machine technologies.