What the Acceleration of Smart Cities Looks Like Today

The disruption of COVID is felt across the entire world. Cities feel this impact in many ways—how residents commute, work, dine, shop, and more. While the pandemic has ground to a halt some infrastructure projects in metro areas, the adoption of smart city technology is still of high interest. Telecom industry veteran Keith Pennachio, Chief Strategy Officer and EVP of SQUAN, shared his insights on COVID’s effect on smart cities. 

“There has been some slowdown in major cities, like New York, which shut down early. Some projects are on hold, mostly in building. But we’ve seen an increase in fiber. Overall, not a lot of delays in infrastructure,” Pennachio said. 

With a highly contagious virus, there has been a shift toward contactless. Smart cities could play a role in this, as well, and it may go beyond COVID. “We’ve seen a dramatic uptick in interest for equipment to facilitate contactless. Customers are asking, ‘How do I do this?’, and with fiber, more advanced technologies for contactless paying, devices in cards, or at front doors is possible,” Pennachio commented.

Will COVID leave permanent changes on how cities operate? Pennachio thinks yes, especially around things like temperature reading devices, already a fixture in Chinese and European international airports. They could become standard in the U.S. at airports, trains, and boats. 

So, what are the challenges of adopting a smart city architecture? One concern remains, privacy. Pennachio stated, “It’s a concern, not just at home when you’re using Alexa, but in general society. You should do your research before you opt-in and think about what the tradeoff is.”

The trend of smart cities isn’t waning, and Pennachio sees COVID as an accelerator. “Before COVID, some of these things were just an idea. Now there’s going to be more rapid adoption with drove and robot delivery,” he added. 

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Latest

mastering AV sales strategies
Mastering AV Sales Strategies: A Diverse Market Requires Understanding Individual Needs
December 8, 2023

Mastering AV sales strategies in a global professional audio-visual (Pro AV) market, poised to reach $79.2 billion by 2028, requires much attention to detail. The surge in demand from corporate, government, and institutional sectors, driven by the need for enhanced productivity and efficient working environments, gives AV sales pros a lot of opportunity. In […]

Read More
cybersecurity in healthcare
Cybersecurity in Healthcare: Addressing the Growing Threat
December 8, 2023

To keep up with the growing threats, cybersecurity in healthcare is a high-level priority. The recent ransomware attack on Ardent Health underscores a stark reality for the healthcare industry: cyber threats are a significant and ongoing challenge. Mike Saylor, the CEO of Blackswan Cybersecurity, LLC, sheds light on the complexities of cybersecurity in healthcare. […]

Read More
effective debt management
Effective Debt Management Holds the Keys to Small Business Cash Flow and Growth
December 8, 2023

Effective debt management through a robust accounts receivable system is essential for small business cash flow and growth, necessitating automated payment schedules and strategic policy adjustments. Collaborating with a collection agency as a strategic partner can enhance revenue recovery while preserving positive customer relationships. How critical is effective debt management for the financial health […]

Read More