Verizon Communications : Why 5G is crucial for the smart city of tomorrow

5G is poised to have a massive impact on how we live, work, learn and play. But the potential of 5G doesn't stop at the front door of our homes, schools or workplaces.

The blazing speeds and low network latencies brought by 5G can enhance the functionality of entire cities. Whether it's helping fight traffic congestion, improving the ways cities monitor and manage vital services, or enabling autonomous mobility, 5G will become an ever more critical tool in cities' arsenals. Pairing Verizon's industry-leading network with ever-smarter data analytics tools and computing speed, communities will be empowered to drive efficiencies, spur economic growth and, most importantly, improve quality of life for their residents.

Why smart cities, and why now?

From population growth to resource management, communities face daunting challengesto their livability standards; resiliency in the face of rapid development and environmental calamities; and ecological sustainability. With an estimated three million peoplemoving into U.S. cities every week, the strain on resources, infrastructure, energy and shared space is all too real.

Americans spend over eight billion hours a year stuck in traffic, and a car that idles an hour per day emits 10 pounds of carbon dioxide in a week. Verizon has already laid smart-city groundwork with our Intelligent Traffic Management solutions, which help move people and vehicles more safely and efficiently. Using in-ground sensors and micro-radar to reduce drivers' stops and alleviate gridlock, these solutions have become trusted, invaluable tools in cities across the U.S.

'The data helps city managers and planners better understand how to provide facilities for the citizens, which will then improve or reduce commute times and CO2 emissions,' explains David Tucker, Verizon product director for traffic management/data services. 'It's all about making it easier to commute within your cities. That's why we're in this-to help improve our citizens' lives.'

The potential impact of 5G on cities

By 2025, the global market for smart-city services-from healthcare to transportation to energy security-is estimated to reach $2.57 trillion, and those investments will largely hinge on network providers' ability to relay massive amounts of data among connected devices and systems in near-real time.