Forward-thinking officials at the federal, state and local levels are hurrying to update their processes, looking for new approaches that maximize community value and minimize delay. Based on what we’ve seen successful cities do, here are key recommendations for communities seeking to accelerate their transition to become a 5G smart city:

Target applications that can energize local economies — Smart city applications, which apply IoT technology to municipal services, can both improve the livability of a community and reduce operating costs for city infrastructure. According to an Accenture study, vehicle traffic management and electrical grid smart city applications alone could produce $160 billion in savings through reductions in energy usage, traffic congestion and fuel costs.

Video-enabled telehealth applications, likewise, can enhance quality of life for seniors while building competitive advantage for local health-care providers. And other IoT applications can improve local manufacturing, transportation, agriculture and educational institutions, depending on a community’s existing economy and priorities.

Read the full article at the Washington Post.