Idaho-based Cradlepoint, a specialist in cloud-delivered LTE and 5G wireless network edge products, is working with T-Mobile and the Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners to improve IoT connectivity.

Using 5G wireless WAN, the technology, developed by Bosch and Cradlepoint, leverages T-Mobile’s 5G network with Cradlepoint’s purpose-built wideband adapters and routers to facilitate near real-time parking and safety monitoring at Peachtree Corners, Georgia, one of the nation’s first smart cities.

Companies and public sector entities are well positioned on the value of 5G cellular IoT connectivity, particularly when it comes to securing, managing and enhancing smart cities. Unlike traditional fibre connections that take months to deploy, cost thousands of dollars and have long-term commitment contracts, Cradlepoint’s 5G wireless WAN can enable an entire ecosystem of IoT partners to deploy immediately with the security and remote management capabilities needed to support IoT at scale.

“Real-world deployments of IoT are challenging the status quo,” said Todd Krautkremer, chief marketing officer at Cradlepoint. “Couple that with the trend of businesses leveraging 5G technology to transform, and you’ll see how this advanced connectivity is remodelling the enterprise. Cradlepoint, T-Mobile and Bosch are at the forefront of this evolution, furthering IoT and 5G deployments for projects of all sizes.”

Chris Melus, vice president at T-Mobile, added: “Improving safety, efficiencies and anticipating the needs of customers is what best-in-class smart cities can accomplish when powered by 5G and with innovators like Cradlepoint. It’s rewarding to see concepts from the Curiosity Lab, leveraging our 5G advanced network suite prove true value in the real world.”

The deployment uses near real-time IoT technology developed by Bosch with T-Mobile’s 5G network and Cradlepoint 5G hardware to assist Peachtree Corners shoppers and visitors in finding open parking as well as available charging stations for electric vehicles.

“In collaboration with T-Mobile and Cradlepoint, and our continued joint effort with the Curiosity Lab in the city of Peachtree Corners, we are demonstrating scalable, affordable, adroit AIoT to serve the community,” said Lewis Stallworth, business development manager at Bosch Security Systems. “The flexibility of this was only possible with this technology-forward collaboration and is changing the conversation of what is possible when there is a need for parking management, retail management, community safety and true community operational analytics.”

In addition to improving the Peachtree Corners visitor experience, the technology also enables city planners to make real-time informed decisions on parking capacity, infrastructure planning, traffic management and security safeguards based on data around events happening throughout the city.

“Through our work with Cradlepoint, Bosch and T-Mobile, we are now able to better manage our public spaces,” said Brandon Branham, CTO at Peachtree Corners. “Cradlepoint devices having high-speed connectivity through T-Mobile’s 5G is key. These devices now allow us to use smart parking applications through the Bosch cameras in our town centre, while also providing a safety and security layer for our police department. The analytics these devices provide help us to better communicate with our residents about parking and safety in our downtown area.”

Peachtree Corners in Georgia is home to more than 45,000 residents, 45,000 jobs and an innovation hub that houses technology companies.

• Peachtree Corners has announced a partnership with the North Texas Innovation Alliance (NTXIA), a regional consortium of nearly 30 municipalities, agencies, corporations and academic institutions across north Texas. The alliance was created to develop a supportive and collaborative network to integrate smart-city efforts across the region. This cross-regional partnership extends both Peachtree Corners’ and NTXIA’s efforts in supporting the expansion of smart cities across the country through public-private partnerships.