Cincinnati Bell is the latest telco to undertake a smart city deployment project.  Under an agreement with the city of Dayton, OH, Cincinnati Bell will install fiber and provide free Wi-Fi in the historic Oregon district of the city. The regional telecom network provider will also provide technology for cameras on the street as well as software to help economic development efforts.

Cincinnati Bell smart city deployment includes:

• Analytics and engagement software to support local businesses and drive economic development
• Cameras will be installed throughout the business district, including in alleyways and parking lots
• Links from the Wi-Fi portal will enable users to easily contact legislators and/or make donations to The Dayton Foundation

“We are so incredibly grateful for Cincinnati Bell’s generosity,” said Kyle Babirad, president of the Oregon District Business Association.

“The importance of connectivity within the Oregon District cannot be overstated. Cincinnati Bell’s work with us improves our ability to connect with each other and with the broader Dayton community.”

“Cincinnati Bell is committed to supporting the City of Dayton and Oregon District Business Association,” said Jason Praeter, president and general manager of Cincinnati Bell’s Entertainment and Communications business.

“As a lifelong Dayton resident currently residing in Bellbrook, I am especially proud that Cincinnati Bell is a part of this important project,” he added.

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The Cincinnati Bell smart city deployments in Dayton is the latest example of a telecom provider getting involved with a smart city deployment within or near its serving area. Other examples:

• AT&T participated in a smart lighting project in Atlanta, Georgia.
• Smart lighting also was a focus for a C Spire smart city deployment in Ridgeland, Mississippi.
• Sprint deployed Wi-Fi in Kansas City to support public Wi-Fi connectivity as well as video cameras and smart lighting.

In some cases, service providers are getting involved in these projects to learn more about the smart city and to enhance public perceptions of the company. But some smart city projects have the potential to benefit service providers in other ways and have generated competition among service providers.

For example, AT&T and Verizon both pursued smart city opportunities in San Jose and each company ended up being involved in a different aspect of the project. A key motivation was the possibility of gaining access to prime small cell locations within the city.

References:

https://www.telecompetitor.com/cincinnati-bell-smart-city-deployment-will-serve-dayton-neighborhood/

https://www.smartcitiesworld.net/news/news/cincinnati-bell-helps-oregon-district-deploy-smart-city-solution-4540