The challenges communities face today don’t have simple solutions. Deploying a community-wide wireless infrastructure opens options for new strategies for addressing these challenges. " Going wireless" offers many potential benefits for communities—from increased productivity to lowercosts to greater citizen satisfaction—while being practical and cost-effective.

Metro-scale wireless broadband solutions bring community-wide benefits to Tempe, Xi’an, Portland and North-Rhine Westphalia—through support from Intel® Solution Services.

Making the Vision a Reality
Many communities have a clear vision of what they want their community to be. " A diverse, sustainable community with healthy neighborhoods, a vibrant urban core, a strong regional economy and quality jobs for all citizens" is how one U.S. city describes their vision. Wireless and mobile technologies can provide the foundation for strategies to achieve such a vision. Some benefits are:

Emergency workers can be better informed, enabling them to respond more quickly—saving lives and property. For example, ambulances can link instantly to the hospital, fire crews to hazardous materials databases and police cars to full records and photos. Wireless cameras can be used to monitor potential terrorist targets, high-traffic intersections and high-crime locations. City government agencies can better serve their citizens and improve efficiency of services while decreasing costs.

• E-Government. Citizens can access government services online, such as searching for a property deed, making a tax payment or renewing a fishing license. At the same time, governments can take advantage of new options for communicating with citizens and reducing costs.
• City Field Workers. Wireless mobile technology can play a significant role in increasing the efficiency of field workers. In-car connectivity allows officers to send intelligence to headquarters over the Internet and complete paperwork in the field for transmission to the station.Maintenance workers can file reports from the field, reducing the time spent completing paperwork at the office. On-site inspection results can be filed immediately from the site, reducing approval delays.
• Intelligent Transportation. Wireless tracking devices complement cellular and Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to enhance capabilities for monitoring public bus and subway locations and updating schedule information at boarding point kiosks. Traffic signal schedules can be remotely adjusted in the field based on traffic delays or emergency evacuation needs.
• Public Services. Deploying wireless devices, such as interactive kiosks and cameras, in public spaces and government buildings can reduce service costs—from security and traffic monitoring to parking fine payments to tourist support—while improving services.

Businesses can be more competitive and profitable. A community-wide wireless infrastructure helps attract new businesses and support existing businesses. Community-wide wireless access brings expensive technologies within financial reach of companies, reducing barriers to expanding their markets and lowering the costs of growing their business—making them better able to compete with larger businesses. A strong economy attracts and retains quality jobs and qualified people.


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