NTT Data deploys citywide private 5G and IoT in Brownsville, Texas

The City of Brownsville in Texas, in the US, has commissioned NTT Data to deploy a private 5G network and a roster of IoT and AI applications to support and promote public services, public safety, environmental sustainability, and economic growth. NTT Data, which has a major US 5G smart-city deployment in Las Vegas, resells private 5G systems from Celona and Cisco, and also Nokia on an ad hoc basis; the vendor-brand on the Brownsville installation has not been confirmed. The company also sells in-house and third-party IoT solutions. 

The City of Brownsville was named the “worst connected city” by the US government’s National Telecoms and Information Administration (NTIA) in 2017, said NTT Data. “[It] is now becoming one of the best connected cities,” it said, also citing a forecast by Guidehouse Research that smart city technology “markets” will grow to $301.2 billion by 2032. It said that “scalable, secure private 5G networks” offer a foundation for all the new spending on smart-city IoT applications. It added: “The goal is to improve everyday life for their citizens and turn the city into the next tech hub.”

NTT Data will manage the new infrastructure, it said. The rollout is a phased one, with an initial focus on downtown areas, including four public parks, the city’s public works yard, and its airport. The initial use cases are listed as: ‘smart infrastructure’, enabled by new and existing IoT devices and connectivity (“throughout the city”); “connected city”, supported by the new 5G network (for “blanket coverage [for] IoT assets); and safety and security, provided by “real-time” insights from said newly-connected data points about management of public spaces and public safety.

All of which means lots of sensors, including lots of cameras, running mostly over private 5G – including for monitoring occupancy levels, crowd management, and public safety. A statement said: “[The city] will collect data from thousands of new and existing city assets such as computer vision [devices], wireless access points, and optical, audio, and motion sensors. NTT’s ‘Smart Solutions’ (IoT portfolio) will use ML and AI analytics to assess real-time and historical data to help city officials address diverse issues and… [become] a smart and connected city.”  

The private 5G network, described as “turnkey”, will provide the city with “improved economics [by] avoiding charges assessed by traditional wireless carriers”, said NTT Data. The deployment can “flex and scale to future demand and use cases”, it said. The company cited its private 5G experience in Las Vegas, as well as Frankfurt and Cologne airports in Germany, and the RAI Amsterdam event venue in the Netherlands.

A statement explained: “Brownsville continues to experience significant growth driven by high quality of life, the nearby SpaceX Starbase complex, the Texas LNG export facility and the deep-water Port of Brownsville as well as Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport. Providing advanced digital capabilities and secure wireless connectivity will help the city deliver optimal benefits to citizens and businesses while effectively shaping sustainable future growth.”

John Cowen, Brownsville City Mayor, said the work will set a “new standard for smart, connected and sustainable cities”. He stated: “Ultimately, we’re seeking to reinvent human-to-digital interactions in ways that deliver amazing citizen services and an outstanding quality of life.” Jorge Cardenas, chief information officer for the city, said private 5G is “not just beneficial [but] essential”, and will position Brownsville at the “forefront of technological advancement and economic development”.

Eric Clark, chief executive for NTT Data in North America, said: “The combination of predictive AI, real-time analytics, private 5G, and edge devices is a game changer for communities and industries seeking digital transformation. We look forward to partnering with the city on further innovations that create a bright and prosperous future.”