require gigabit-per-second throughputs to relay massive amounts of data among connected devices and systems in near-real time. Compared to current 4G LTE networks, 5G provides very high data rates, extremely low latency, an increase in base station capacity and significant improvement in quality of service (QoS).

In the U.S., one global networking provider has just launched 5G initiatives in support of smart city developments in Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, and Sacramento. Given their ability to provide enhanced connectivity and their experience managing complex networks while mitigating cybersecurity threats, network operators and telecom providers are uniquely positioned to serve the technological requirements of smart cities. Telcos, in turn, must colocate network infrastructure in highly connected data centers located within the city limits to ensure fast, secure and resilient connectivity at all times. 

Colocation at the Edge

As smart cities grow in number and complexity, placing increasingly high demands on centralized cloud data centers, many industry experts believe that colocation facilities, especially those located in or within close proximity to major metro areas, will become their foundation. In seeking colocation, smart city architects and service providers will need to prioritize scalable storage for the exponential increase in data and the computing power needed for advanced analytics. Many edge devices and smart systems lack adequate computing power to accomplish this on their own. And moving data back and forth to the cloud presents challenges of latency, bandwidth and security that are a non-starter for self-driving cars and robotics, applications in which decisions have to be made with lightning speed.

Hence, as smart city planners future-proof for tomorrow’s requirements, it’s essential that data centers are located as close as possible to the edge of the network to ensure low latency so that smart systems and applications can function optimally. But beyond storage, compute and connectivity, colocating at the edge in Tier III facilities will also provide technical infrastructure with the necessary flexibility and security as well as an abundant, reliable power supply and cooling resources. Smart cities, the embodiment of the Internet of Everything (IoE), which Cisco defines “the intelligent connection of people, process, data and things,” require a high-availability, reliable and sustainable data center that can deliver continuous uptime.

The Tier III Data Center Solution Supporting the Smart City of Los Angeles

The City of Los Angeles in the process of teaming up with several major carriers to help realize the ambition of making LA one of the smartest cities in America through improvements in traffic control, public safety, air quality and digital infrastructure. To achieve this, the city is exploring public-private partnerships for the deployment of a variety of smart cities solutions ranging from digital kiosks and smart streetlights to structural monitoring. In addition, multiple enterprises are working on a host of IoT applications, including autonomous vehicles. 

As the second-largest city in the United States with a population of more than four million people, the need for ample colocation space has never been more of a priority as Los Angeles strives to become a leader in smart city development. While the city has approximately 2.6 million square feet of custom-built data center space, much, but not all of it, is already at capacity.

Colocation data centers located in the heart of LA are needed to provide:

• Scalable capacity for future growth
• Resilient infrastructure to securely house critical data
• Low latency interconnectivity at the edge of the network

West 7 Center can serve the requirements of smart city IoT network and application environments, as well as their end users. The 348,000 square foot facility is the ideal place to house mission-critical equipment, establish vital cross-connects and ensure data analysis occurs close to an end-user population and edge devices, helping make Los Angeles’ dream of being a smart city a reality.