https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
  • Resources & Events
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
  • Resources/Events
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers/eBooks
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Magazine
acc.com

Commentaries


Commentary

The evolution of connectivity: Cities focus on increasing need for 5G infrastructure

The evolution of connectivity: Cities focus on increasing need for 5G infrastructure

Phil Kelley, senior vice president of corporate development and strategy at shared communications infrastructure provider Crown Castle, explains the many benefits of implementing 5G-enabling small cells, beyond connecting with others.
  • Written by contributor
  • 30th July 2018

By Phil Kelley

It’s no surprise that today’s style of communication has grown leaps and bounds since the invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876. Today, communication is a necessity for everyday living, just like water and electricity. When people turn on the tap, they expect water to run swiftly, not trickle out. And, when they turn on their mobile device, they expect to have data capacity and coverage.  

Now that more than half of U.S. households have abandoned the landline and rely exclusively on wireless connectivity, communications infrastructure is becoming more essential to modern life, and it powers every facet of our society. For a smart, sustainable city to continue to prosper, there must be a focus on implementing next generation communications infrastructure, specifically “small cells”. They are needed to increase current network capacity to keep up with the exponential increase in consumer data demand.

As municipalities consider implementing 5G-enabling small cells, it’s critical for officials and residents to understand that this infrastructure provides more than just a way to connect with our friends and family. From public health to innovation, cutting-edge communications infrastructure will benefit municipalities and their residents in the following ways:

Empowering emergency response

Investing in communications infrastructure and the deployment of small cell technology will prove critical to saving lives and improving emergency response. Years ago, 911 calls were exclusively made via landline phone; today 80 percent of 911 calls originate from a mobile device. Additionally, public safety decision makers have acknowledged the increasing use of social media in emergency situations – 89 percent of public safety decision makers now say wireless data is just as important as voice. Cities across the country have implemented new technology like flood sensor and gunfire detection systems which rely on communications infrastructure, such as small cells, to run and service people efficiently. These technologies are proving important when sharing and responding to information in real-time.

Sustaining local economic growth

We can use the application of 4G as a case study for the economic benefits of implementing new communications infrastructure. When 4G launched, the U.S. economy saw an estimated increase in GDP of between $73–$151 billion and up to 700,000 new jobs. With the deployment of 5G infrastructure, that number is expected to more than triple. Reports show that wireless infrastructure upgrades could create three million jobs nationwide and boost GDP by $500 billion over the next seven years. This translates to tangible jobs and economic prosperity for municipalities and their residents.

Encouraging local innovation

Cities and businesses are the driving force behind the U.S.’s race to remain a global leader in technology, and communications infrastructure provides the foundation for cutting-edge technologies. From autonomous vehicles to augmented reality applications, the evolution of new technology and innovation relies on a robust, local communications infrastructure. In the years to come, residents will benefit from more reliable municipal services, while workers and operators will be able to more successfully perform their jobs and interact with residents.

Powering modern day entertainment

The way we engage at sporting events, concerts, and family gatherings is changing. People use apps to check traffic before heading to an event, they take pictures and post on social media once they arrive, and they continuously look up supplemental information that helps them bring the event to life. But, with wireless devices in everyone’s hand, existing infrastructure can quickly become overwhelmed. Cities are charged with accommodating both the physical capacity of people and the data capacity of their devices. As venues become more digitized and connected, cities must look to create an environment that facilitates deployment and attracts investment.

As technological innovation continues, municipalities and residents will rely on advanced communications infrastructure to grow their cities, keep families safe, and power entertainment. It’s time to acknowledge the benefits that communication can have on our lives and do everything in our power to provide a foundation for the 5G revolution.

Phil Kelley is the senior vice president of corporate development and strategy at Crown Castle, the largest provider of shared communications infrastructure in the U.S.

 

_____________

To get connected and stay up-to-date with similar content from American City & County:
Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter
Watch us on YouTube

Tags: Smart Cities & Technology Commentaries Commentary

Most Recent


  • Amid tech labor shortage, outsourcing digital services could provide relief
    The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated tech and digitization globally, forever changing the way local governments conduct daily business, along with the expectations of constituents. Over the last two years, smart city plans have increased in popularity; services like tax bill payments and licensing have mostly shifted into the digital realm; and town offices evolved into comprehensive […]
  • procurement IT
    The beauty of the beast: Why the pandemic & cybersecurity might actually improve procurement and IT collaboration
    For well over decade, IT managers have listed cybersecurity as their number one concern. Both the CompTIA Public Technology Institute (PTI) and the National Association of State Information Officers (NASCIO) have been tracking top trends in IT management, policy, governance and operational issues as they relate to state and local government. Only recently has “procurement” […]
  • public health
    Building the public health workforce of tomorrow
    Since the first case of COVID-19 hit the United States, public health units across the country have been working non-stop to contain this deadly disease. In the two years since the first lockdowns, we’ve all seen these professionals work diligently to help educate the public about the risks, give tips on how to prevent getting […]
  • Reno launches first-ever municipal blockchain app to track public transactions
    Much has been said in the last week about the ongoing meltdown of cryptocurrency, driven by an uncertain economic outlook and rapidly increasing inflation. Over the last seven months, Bitcoin, for example, has dropped to $21,000 from its $64,000 high. But while crypto markets might be in retreat at least for the moment, the underlying technology […]

Related Content

  • MS-ISAC members get free access to Deloitte’s Cyber Detect and Respond Portal to help respond to cyber threats
  • North Texas alliance partners with Marketplace.city on smart government solutions
  • Harris County deploys next-generation security in 150 public buildings
  • Prioritizing rapid restore leads to stronger ransomware attack recovery

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

Seamless Cooperative Experience Saves Indiana City Exponentially in Time and Money dlvr.it/SSxp95

27th June 2022
AmerCityCounty

10 best large cities for fishing dlvr.it/SSxbSZ

27th June 2022
AmerCityCounty

Generational differences present an opportunity to reinvent public sector service delivery dlvr.it/SSxbN7

27th June 2022
AmerCityCounty

Report: Local and state governments are facing a retention crisis; the worst could be yet to come dlvr.it/SSnmS7

24th June 2022
AmerCityCounty

Amid an unprecedented increase in federal spending, cities and counties stand to benefit from partnerships dlvr.it/SSkGBn

23rd June 2022
AmerCityCounty

Governments using technology to harness data and improve decision-making dlvr.it/SSk3H0

23rd June 2022
AmerCityCounty

Infrastructure highlighted by city leaders as top priority in analysis of 60 mayoral addresses dlvr.it/SSgBck

22nd June 2022
AmerCityCounty

Oklahoma City puts the focus on employees when implementing changes in office technology dlvr.it/SSfyns

22nd June 2022

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2022 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X