Brownsville in Texas has started deploying a private 5G network to turn the city into a technology hub and “reinvent human-to-digital interaction”.
The city will work with NTT DATA to roll out the network to enhance connectivity for residents and businesses, while resolving pain points for the city.
“The City of Brownsville is unique as it was only a few years ago in 2017 that the NTIA [National Telecommunications and Information Administration] gave us the distinction of being the worst connected city in the country,” Jorge Cardenas, CIO, City of Brownsville told Cities Today. “With the Private 5G network and the Smart Solutions from NTT DATA, we will soon be known as one of the most connected cities in the world.”
The network as a service solution will allow the city to gather extensive data from all current devices and new ones being installed – from thousands of city assets such as real-time computer vision, wireless access points, and optical, audio and motion sensors –to create an Internet of Things (IoT) network. The network will use machine learning and AI analytics to assess real-time and historical data to address issues.
“This allows us to bring the data together for us to analyse and predict in real-time if there are issues with certain traffic intersections, at a downtown park or other location,” said Cardenas. “We can then address each concern to improve the quality of life for residents.”
The Private 5G network’s initial phase aims to be ready by the end of the year –concentrating on the city’s downtown core, including parks, the Department of Public Works Yard and the airport. Further plans will see the network expand across the whole city within the next two years.
Cardenas had previously connected with the CIO of the City of Las Vegas, Michael Sherwood, who undertook a similar initiative to get his insights and perspectives on how to best use the technologies in Brownsville.
“We are transforming the city into a technology hub and to do this, we need smart city solutions, IoT, AI, data analytics and Private 5G networks that pave the path to a data-driven future,” added Cardenas. “The Private 5G network and Smart Solutions from NTT DATA will attract more businesses to the City of Brownsville, creating more jobs for our residents and a brighter future overall.”
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Jonathan Andrews
Quelle/Source: Cities Today, 07.09.2024
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