To foster the creation of a Smart City, AT&T and LA reportedly are in talks regarding a public-private partnership.
“Access to information is the foundation of equality, opportunity, and prosperity,” said Eric Garcetti, Mayor, Los Angeles. “We are establishing unique partnerships as we deploy new networks and technologies across L.A. — and we're excited to be discussing with AT&T how to empower Angelenos with new tools that could make their lives easier and our communities stronger.”
LA is at the forefront of using technology and innovation to improve the community. Traffic, natural disaster preparedness, and public safety will be top of mind. To achieve this, the partners said they are exploring the deployment of a variety of Smart Cities solutions ranging from digital kiosks to structural monitoring to digital infrastructure. The deployment of these technologies will benefit all neighborhoods in Los Angeles, helping to provide better connectivity to neighborhoods that have been traditionally left behind in the digital divide.
“We’re exploring possibilities with the City of LA to create a technology-first environment that can improve experiences for residents and visitors across the community,” said Michael Zeto, VP and GM, Smart Cities, AT&T. “We’re looking to help the city improve problems like traffic congestion and public safety.”
To enhance existing voice and data capacity in LA, they will look to deploy a greater number of small cells more rapidly to expand the existing network and begin deployment of a 5G network. With more than 222 petabytes of data running over our global network on a given day, small cells will help meet the demands of customers in LA and around the world.
Small cell technology also helps bring increased capacity to first responders. This is in addition to the increased coverage and capacity that FirstNet -- the nationwide public safety communications platform dedicated to America’s first responders -- is providing to the LA public safety community through the network’s Band 14 spectrum build and integration of assets from the Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System.
Public safety agencies in the area are already subscribing to FirstNet to take advantage of its innovative capabilities.
“We’re about to witness an evolution in public safety communications and first responders' access to data. This is thanks to the advancements of the FirstNet network platform and the technologies that are being built upon it,” said Maggie Goodrich, AT&T-FirstNet consultant and former CIO for the Los Angeles Police Department. “The possibilities enabled by FirstNet can change the game for first responders in LA and across the country.”
Ken Briodagh is a writer and editor with more than a decade of experience under his belt. He is in love with technology and if he had his druthers would beta test everything from shoe phones to flying cars.
