Smart cities need a connectivity upgrade

If a smart city is one that puts data and digital technology to work to make better decisions and improve the quality of life of its inhabitants, then the ease, speed and security with which that data can be accessed and processed is paramount. Connectivity among these digital systems is key, which means that smart cities will depend on a secure, ubiquitous cellular network to power their crucial subsystems.

The advantages of cellular IoT include cellular footprint, cellular security and reliability, and low power consumption and associated low cost—making it the perfect connectivity solution for these three elements of a smart city.

Air quality monitoring
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), ambient air pollution accounts for 4.2 million premature deaths every year. Cities and industries have grappled with poor air quality for decades, and the lack of an affordable and scalable monitoring solution is a leading hindrance.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines ambient air monitoring as the systematic, long-term assessment of pollutant levels by measuring the quantity and types of certain pollutants in the surrounding, outdoor air. The air quality monitoring market is growing with several solutions providing much-needed insight into and analysis of the air we breathe.

One example, Berkeley, Calif.-based Clarity, tackles the air-pollution crisis using next-generation IoT sending and data analytic technologies. Its solution provides real-time, hyper-local air quality data that supplements existing regulatory monitors to eliminate blind spots and empower cities and communities to take more effective action.

To deliver and operate Clarity products internationally—at times in remote locations, incorporating cellular IoT connectivity for growth—led Clarity to select cellular for three reasons:
• Cellular networks are ubiquitous, mature and reliable.
• There is no other network technology with the same reach.
• SIM-based authentication and utilization of VPN tunnels makes cellular the most secure option.

The characteristics of cellular connectivity—large coverage areas, remote management, private networks and robust security options, to name just a few—mean air quality management is now more accessible, cost-effective and actionable than ever before.

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