5G Technology and Smart Cities: A First Look at the Future

A new wave of broadband internet is called 5G and will soon flood the entire wireless industry. The trend coincides with the increasing efforts of local authorities, urban planners, and technology vendors of all kinds to ‘smartify’ cities. Where will these two streams meet first? In smart cities, of course. Although there are as many strategies for smart cities as there are organizations proposing them, one thing is clear – smart cities will depend on ubiquitous broadband connectivity to support a whole range of essential services.

Cities are currently facing a number of significant challenges, including increased security, enhanced energy efficiency, improved air quality, increased transportation efficiency, and improved overall quality of life for permanent residents and visitors. The impetus for ‘smartifying’ cities has been driven by the need to address these issues, and communication networks will be a key tool for all urban planners, says Thorsten Robrecht, Vice President of Nokia for Wirelessweek.

Smart city services require advanced digital infrastructure that offers large data capacities – for government services, residents, and businesses – that can be accessed from anywhere at any time. From a practical standpoint, this means that a significant portion of this infrastructure must be wireless. However, existing mobile networks will soon no longer be sufficient in terms of data capacity and bandwidth to support the increased number of users, devices, and applications expected in most potential smart city scenarios. This will create bottlenecks that could jeopardize local authorities’ aspirations for a smart city.

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The natural response to this challenge is 5G technology, which promises a significant increase in speed and data volume, and no less importantly, a reduction in latency. To achieve this, 5G must utilize higher radio frequencies, which cover a smaller geographical area but offer much higher data transmission speeds. The consequence will be a much denser network of transmitters that will be placed much closer to each other than is customary in today’s macro networks.

In the context of a smart city, this raises some important questions; perhaps the most significant is: “Where will we put all these transmitters?” While people like to have access to broadband internet wherever they are, they are somewhat less inclined to the idea of being surrounded by radio transmitters. Consequently, city authorities, technology vendors, and partners from various industries are seeking elegant solutions to this challenge, and many have already launched their own pilot programs for 5G networks to explore its possibilities in a real-world environment.

One of the more interesting approaches currently being explored is the integration of 5G transmitters into existing urban elements: bus and tram stops and street lighting. One of the logistical advantages of placing transmitters on lighting poles is that the poles are already connected to the electrical grid.

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In preparation for the arrival of 5G technology, many cities and their commercial partners have launched pilot programs that are going through many challenges they will face when broader commercial implementation occurs. For example, the integration of 5G and other smart city infrastructure initiatives presents new challenges in design. What needs to be done from a design perspective to support various technologies in a very limited space? How can we squeeze as many functions as possible into each point in the most cost-effective way? What types of materials should be used to allow radio signals to pass unobstructed and enable access to fast connections?

As important as the answers to these logistical questions are, it is also essential that the system looks attractive (if it cannot be invisible) if we want the public to accept it. The system needs to be durable and resistant not only to whims but also to the test of time.

Fortunately, answers to these questions are being sought through pilot projects, many of which involve companies and organizations that previously had little role in the implementation of mobile networks. Network equipment suppliers and communication service providers have teamed up with local authorities, industrial designers, universities, and research institutions, and manufacturers of electronic components to find an answer that satisfies both the profession and the public.

In addition to addressing technical challenges, these projects also offer an opportunity to develop better practices in areas such as network planning, urbanism, cost optimization, business model development, and strategies for sharing the costs of implementation and network management. They also provide an opportunity for various other potential stakeholders in these projects to explore investment opportunities before broad implementation begins.

It is clear that the old approach of ‘planting’ large transmitters will simply not be adequate for the needs of 5G technology, especially in densely populated areas with high demands in terms of the number of users and applications. The emergence of 5G networks will break down all barriers between network and urban planning. Given the acceleration in the commercialization of 5G that we have seen in the market, planning smart cities with an integrated 5G network should start today.