“ Our ambition as a company is to create an inclusive , digital world ,” says Shawn Sparling , VP Enterprise and Public Sector at Nokia Canada . Achieving that requires network connectivity , something in which the company is a specialist . “ We look at networks as foundational to bringing that inclusiveness to the world , whether we ’ re talking about smart cities or rural areas . That ’ s especially true in today ’ s world , where our technology is helping communities secure access to healthcare and education .”

In recent times , Sparling has seen the industry shift towards more efficient and greener solutions , alongside a move towards virtualization . “ This creates complexity but also enables a quicker turnaround to new solutions . With technology changing so fast we ’ re focused on creating cities that are connected and smart , while simultaneously being safer and more efficient .”

It is precisely this impetus that has driven Nokia to partner with the City of Hamilton . “ We ’ re outcome-based , so the question really was : what do they need ? What are the issues that they ’ re facing as the city ? Whether it ’ s air quality , traffic , or responsiveness to health emergencies .”

Sparling anticipates that next generation to be driven by sensors which can be repurposed for different applications . “ It was a very siloed world before . Now what we ’ re doing is really looking at leveraging data into an integrated operations command and control centre . Leveraging those open assets while of course remaining secure .” Automation is another area growing in importance . “ With that complexity , we need to start to automate so we can react more quickly . We can take information from four or five devices and have the system make a decision or notify an operator as to what might be happening .”

Another trend is the move towards operational simplification . “ One of the things we ’ ve done is make it simple enough that with very easy training , you can take a piece of equipment , plug it in , turn it on , bring it up and operate that network within 10 minutes . Something that previously took weeks is now a 10-minute exercise to have a 4G or 5G wireless network fully up and running . Going forward , the uptake in smart city solutions is only set to accelerate . “ It ’ s an exciting time to be in the industry , and we ’ ve enjoyed working with the City of Hamilton to bring innovative technology that will serve to make the community a safer and more efficient place .”