How should cities prep for 5G? 6 experts weigh in
Source: Smart Cities Dive Author: Chris Teale Published Nov. 11, 2019
"5G, for all its glories and what it will bring... [has] a darker side. It will exclude people, and we've got to find new models with the private sector," said Salford, England's CDO.
While 2019 has been a big year for 5G, the tech will only ramp up in 2020 as major telecom companies promise to roll out nationwide mobile networks.
Promised deployments have left city leaders to ponder what they should do to prepare, with issues remaining around litigation, bridging the digital divide, aesthetics, environmental impacts and local control. An air of uncertainty may loom as leaders look for the best ways to proceed, both through partnerships with telecoms and in writing regulations and policies.
Smart Cities Dive compiled the insights of six 5G experts from interviews and panel discussions at the DC5G conference last week in Arlington, VA, to find out what cities should be prioritizing as they look to take advantage of the bold new technology.
♦♦♦
"It's so important in the North American market to work to streamline the cell siting processes so that our great carriers can go out there and do more cell sites to provide additional connectivity in the communities to make sure that the benefits of 5G are there for everyone, not just those in the city that have a cell tower close to them. Let's bridge the digital divide by streamlining our processes for cell sites."
— Chris Pearson, President of 5G Americas