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PITTSBURGH’S 5G TRANSFORMATION

Over the last decade, as the cloud of soot and smoke has cleared away from Pittsburgh’s skyline, our city has transformed into a bright and bustling hub for advancement and innovation. Autonomous vehicles test-drive down our streets, and new technologies and automation have integrated into even the most old-school environments. Pittsburgh offers some of the best opportunities to live, work, and contribute to the future, as innovation sparks all around us.

Business leaders and city officials are under immense pressure to create, implement and steward innovation that improves all of the economic, workforce, community and social aspects of working and living across our city and region. Now, it’s time to continue to position Pittsburgh at the forefront of the future by leveraging 5G technology to usher in a new era of innovation and technological leadership.

5G holds the promise to transform everything from how we market our businesses, products and services, to how we commute to work and school, and how we interact with each other and the world around us. With enhanced connectivity and communication capabilities, 5G technology can and will empower and enable Pittsburgh, and cities like it, to do and be more.

The technology of the new decade has benefi ts that extend far beyond 2020. From alleviating frustrating commutes and traffic jams to infrastructure, public service and public safety improvements, prioritizing 5G technology an position Pittsburgh as a smart(er) city, at the forefront of leveraging new technologies and automation, as well as data collection and analysis, to improve city-
wide sustainability and stability.

On The Level logoStreet Smarts
As Carnegie Mellon, Argo AI, Uber, and so many other vehicle autonomy leaders invest in Pittsburgh as their testing grounds, the transition from 4G to 5G could make fully autonomous vehicles a real possibility. Greater network connectivity means faster data processing, which enables artificial intelligence to unlock rapid and more human-like response times, communicate with other connected infrastructure and fellow autonomous cars, and collect and process more data, faster. 5G has the potential to create safer and smarter autonomous vehicles on our roads.

Additionally, with the connectivity, processing, speed, and data handling abilities enabled by 5G, cities like Pittsburgh can transform traffic patterns, reduce jams and upgrade grids through communication with traffic lights, data analysis of traffic patterns and more.

Building Connections
4G networks don’t have the ability to handle and process data reliably or quickly enough to enable and support improved communication and connection abilities. 

5G connectivity will open the gates to communication and connection that can improve nearly every aspect of our daily lives and provide more people with access to information. While too much data can completely inundate and overwhelm a 4G network, 5G is the only technology with the speed, bandwidth, and infrastructure capabilities needed to maintain business continuity, improve public services and safety, facilitate accessibility and enhance day-to-day life.

Data Analysis & Application
Data collection and processing on 5G networks enables massive amounts of data to be analyzed and applied to automate and improve processes city-wide. In automating or optimizing mundane or inefficient tasks, human potential expands to access higher skillsets and contribute to more complex tasks.

Across our city and region, and within every business, sector, and individual, 5G technology applications and networks have the power to transform. But, the introduction of full-scale 5G is a marathon, not a sprint, and one that can transition in on a small scale. It holds a tremendous amount of potential, but it doesn’t come without its challenges. Adoption and adaptation will require the collective and collaborative buy-in of stakeholders across city, county and state public officials, business leaders and tech companies, service providers, influencers, individuals and communities, driving not
only the demand, but also the vision for investment and exploration in 5G technology and infrastructure.

From accessing critical mobile data on-the-go to asking Alexa to preheat the oven, as more and more facets of our work and lives move online, technology is rapidly transforming the way we learn, live and lead. Smarter technology integrations and innovations enable us to lead smarter businesses, live smarter lives and steward smarter cities. As a gateway to the preparation for and potential of our future, now is the time to explore, experiment and experience the possibility of 5G innovation right here in Pittsburgh.