The race is on for cities to deploy smart technology to streamline operations and improve the quality of life for its citizens, tourists, and business owners alike. This means there are more Internet of Things (IoT) devices and sensors being installed throughout cities to gather more data than ever before. Whether it is a smart parking application or smart streetlights, cities actually get “smarter” by using the data collected by these IoT devices and sensors throughout their city and analyzing it to generate insights. Similar to building a home, building a smart city relies on a strong foundation.

The importance of a network

8,500 U.S. cities are Smart Ready, meaning the supporting Spectrum network infrastructure is already in place. Why is this critical? Well, in order to share the data being collected from these numerous IoT sensors and devices, cities need a robust, high-bandwidth network to transfer different data types and protocols with no restrictions. Data is only valuable when you analyze it to extract insights, so by ingesting the shared data from IoT devices into an analytics software, city leaders can turn this raw data into actionable, smarter decisions.

The types of networks

As you can see from the graphic above, there are main categories of network infrastructures, each with their own benefits. Let’s dive into each:

1. WiFi - WiFi is a reliable network connection designed for short-range communication, within a confined geographic location, such as office buildings, schools, hospitals, and other community institutions. This makes Spectrum WiFi an optimal choice for IoT devices that don’t require wide geographic coverage, such as safety cameras. Safety cameras can support a number of use cases, from offering critical evidence for investigations to detecting unauthorized vehicles parked in pre-defined zones – all within a closely-defined space.

2. Private LTE (pLTE) - Most of us are familiar with a cellular network, such as 5G, LTE/4G, or 3G, because it’s what connects our cellphones to the internet when we’re not on WiFi. A cellular network is a mobile network comprised of many “cells.” As people travel from one cell to another, the voice or data session migrates automatically. A private LTE network is similar to the public LTE network we all know, with the difference being that it is completely controlled by the city investing in the network, leading to higher security and better performance.  This is possible due to the fact that in 2020, pieces of the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum was sold at auction, leading to a spike in private LTE networks. Spectrum pLTE networks are ideal for IoT devices that need to collect and share data across a larger geographic range, such as smart lighting projects, that may span multiple city blocks.

3. Low Power Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) - Spectrum LoRaWAN is a low cost, low power, and long-range wireless network. Optimized for power consumption, some IoT devices can run on small, inexpensive batteries for 10-15 years, rather than months or weeks, saving the city money in both devices and maintenance by reducing the frequency of technician visits. The longer battery life, combined with incredibly wide-range coverage, makes LoRaWAN another attractive option as a network infrastructure to support smart city projects, especially for those use cases that require small bursts of data, like smart water meters.

The right network to power data analytics

Understanding the right network for your smart city project is a critical component for smart city success as it will ensure you’re able to collect and share data from your IoT devices stationed throughout the city. However, data is only valuable when you analyze it to extract insights. So, the right network will provide the foundation required for data analytics, which is what empowers city leaders, citizens and communities to be able to make informed, data-driven decisions.

Partnering to be smart city ready

The final piece of selecting the best network infrastructure to support your smart city projects is picking the right partner. Spectrum Enterprise is a trusted network provider, offering expertise in all connectivity protocols that power smart cities across the country. By partnering with a strategic provider, like Spectrum Enterprise, who fully understands your overall vision, city leaders can focus on driving their initiatives and leverage the Spectrum network infrastructure necessary to lay the foundation for a smart city of today and into the future.

To learn more about partnering with Spectrum Enterprise to get smart city ready, contact us.