There’s a global push to improve how our cities function using data, sensors and internet connections. This what’s at the core of the “smart cities” movement. But building these smarter, more efficient communities requires the right infrastructure. Some communities have a head start.  

Just take the LinkNYC project, a communications network that is replacing New York City pay phones with free state-of-the-art public Wi-Fi kiosks, called Links, to provide internet connectivity to all five boroughs. Since its inception in 2014, the project has proven to be an overwhelming success. In addition to connecting New Yorkers who may not have broadband at home with superfast Wi-Fi, LinkNYC is projected to generate millions of dollars in revenue for the city, while creating 100 to 150 new full-time jobs in manufacturing, technology and advertising.

The continued growth and success of the LinkNYC project is part of a trend: from high-speed public Wi-Fi to advanced technology in smart lighting, traffic and parking systems, and public safety, Smart City technologies are on the rise. In fact, Smart City technology spending is expected to grow to $135 billion by 2021, according to a report from the International Data Corporation (IDC).

At the same time, the technology for connecting all these sensors and wiring our communities is getting an upgrade as well. The latest Wi-Fi standard, 802.11ax is actually built to accommodate high-density device deployments (i.e. lots of sensors, transmitting lots of data). New connection standards like LoRa, a lower-power standard that also runs on unlicensed spectrum, are connecting sensors to the Cloud and enabling real-time communication of data and analytics. In fact, reports show that Smart Cities are really being powered by unlicensed spectrum. From energy to transportation, getting policy right on spectrum will be key to helping cities realize their Smart City visions.