Verizon, San Diego Sign 5G Smart City Agreement

Verizon and San Diego signed a multimillion-dollar agreement to speed 5G wireless small-cells infrastructure deployment, Verizon said Monday. A streamlined permitting process will quickly enhance wireless service and expand smart-city capabilities, said Verizon, which agreed to invest more than $100 million on infrastructure and equipment. The company plans to give 500 smartphones to the San Diego Police Department and 50 tablets to the Fire-Rescue Department, and install advanced traffic data gathering and sensing equipment at five intersections with frequent accidents. Verizon will do an inventory of about 60,000 city-owned light poles, updating and digitizing city information on poles while attaching fiber and small cells, it said. Mayor Kevin Faulconer (R) said the agreement will “provide resources that will further enhance cellular service for residents, keep communities safer and lower costs for taxpayers.”