Syracuse Aims to Improve Broadband Access
These tentpole technology innovations constituted one of the reasons that StateTech named Syracuse one of eight Smart Cities to Watch in 2020. Syracuse has emerged as a leader for investment in technology solutions that meet the needs of its residents, ranging from public safety to internet access.
Where internet access is concerned, addressing the digital divide is also a central goal for Syracuse, where currently approximately 40 to 45 percent of homes lack broadband access, according to Tifft.
As part of an effort to expand the amount of publicly available Wi-Fi, the city plans to install Wi-Fi nodes at six community centers — locations where a number of residents frequently gather, Tifft says — extending the network to external campuses around the centers.
Smart streetlights are the cornerstone of Syracuse’s smart city vision. Source: New York Power Authority
“Connectivity has become a really important component for a lot of cities, given how much emphasis we’re putting on remote learning and working remotely,” she says. “Some parts of our city are already wired with fiber, and we provide broadband at public buildings like city hall and the schools provide access. The pandemic has really underscored the need to come up with a much more comprehensive approach to addressing connectivity and accessibility — which is going to take partnership across a number of different entities.”
Syracuse is currently working with several organizations to augment the area’s tech capabilities — including Verizon, which launched 5G service in parts of the city in 2020.
“We were interested in being one of the first cities to really engage the private sector in 5G deployment because we think it’s so critical for the future,” Tifft says. “It’s not necessarily something carriers are doing to address the digital divide, but the chance comes up as these devices are installed for us to work with potential partners like Verizon and say, ‘How could we work this into a system of solutions to help address that?’”
Syracuse is also collaborating with US Ignite, a nonprofit organization that helps cities advance smart technology use by pairing financial investment with technical and organizational expertise.