Smart Cities Stay Connected with Ruckus

I love to travel – and what I love most about it is that I get to experience the distinct personality of each town or city I visit. Every community has a unique “je ne sais quoi,” as do the people who live there. In my experience, I have observed one common thread – the desire to constantly be connected to the world through technology. More cities around the world are becoming smart cities through digital transformation. By using technology creatively, the cities and towns can bring together the physical aspects of the locale – streetlights, office buildings and the residents themselves – while integrating them with data, analytics and communication. But when it comes to creating sustainable smart cities and towns, it’s important to take into account the uniqueness of each community. Through IoT (Internet of Things) and secure connectivity made possible through digital transformation, cities and towns can become more secure and connected without impact to their individuality. The city of Angers, France has a population of over 280,000 citizens along with a high population of students. It’s well on its way to becoming a smart city. Working with virtual operator, Afone, the city has been equipped with WifiLib, providing free Wi-Fi throughout the city. With Angers setting its sights on offering public Wi-Fi, they turned to Ruckus to provide an innovative digital city experience for its citizens and visitors. An elaborate network of Ruckus access points (APs) enables the residents and tourists to simultaneously access the Internet via Wi-Fi throughout the territory. One major project in the works is the deployment of Ruckus’ SPoT. SPoT provides location-based services that gathers key data, such as foot traffic, and has the ability to analyze pedestrian activity all over the city. This kind of data plays a critical role in enhancing all city services –from crime prevention to pest control. Working closing with Ruckus and the PAVIC association, Angers is looking to develop connected devices in the areas of energy, parking and citizen support. The city will then be able to use this data to improve infrastructure, public utilities and services and so much more. The potential of smart cities is nearly limitless, and the growth of these cities is expected to accelerate in the coming years. To learn how Angers became a smart city, watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rI6kmr-c0c&t=22s Learn more about advanced Wi-Fi solutions by visiting Ruckus at: https://www.ruckuswireless.com.