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Bell and City of Kingston partner for Smart City programInternet of Things data integration to improve operational efficiency, enhance city services KINGSTON, ON, Feb. 7, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Kingston City Council has approved an agreement towards a public-private partnership between the city and Bell that will employ Bell's Smart City platform to provide a series of connected Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Bell's innovative technology will create a more mobile, efficient, collaborative and environmentally sustainable Smart City. "Technological advances are absolutely critical and one of the key factors to our future and economic success throughout the Kingston region," said Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson. "A Smart City uses technology and data to improve livability and opportunities for the city and its people. This partnership with Bell will create cutting-edge technology for us and put Kingston on the map as being one of the most innovative cities in Canada and a leading Smart City, while improving everyday life for the people of Kingston." Supported by Bell's advanced fibre and wireless broadband networks, the Smart City platform will aggregate data from numerous IoT monitoring solutions coupled with the city's open data to provide municipal staff with a digital dashboard containing a consolidated, city-wide view of municipal operations. The Smart City platform will enable Kingston to digitize its operations and collect data to make better informed decisions and investments in city operations and infrastructure, benefiting constituents, internal departments and employees while improving citizen engagement. "Bell is proud to partner with a technology and innovation leader like Kingston to realize the benefits of the Smart City," said Bell Senior Vice President Gary Semplonius. "The Smart City platform will offer city staff a comprehensive and consolidated view of connected city services supporting better operating efficiencies, cost savings and improved services for Kingston residents, businesses and visitors." The first two Smart City solutions of the pilot program will be rolled out this spring:
"Awareness of Smart Cities has grown enormously over the past year. Municipal, provincial and federal governments realize that they can positively alter the lives of millions of urban residents with the technology and data-driven opportunities that digital transformation provides," says Nigel Wallis, IDC Canada's Vice President of IoT and Industries. "Smart City initiatives benefit civic institutions through provisioning sensor data that is analysed, and acted upon by staff and citizens. This makes for better decisions, made faster. IDC believes that the Internet of Things has the potential to enhance efficiency while enabling governments to deliver services in ways that were not previously possible. It is heartening to see a medium-sized city embrace IoT, showing that mid-sized towns are well positioned to take the lead as Canada's Smart Cities." The Government of Canada announced $300 million in funding over 11 years in Budget 2017 towards a Smart Cities Challenge Fund. The Infrastructure Canada initiative is designed to encourage cities to improve the lives of their citizens through innovative connected technology. The IoT solutions being implemented in Kingston are part of a Smart City program offered by Bell that will enable cities to quickly transform their operations within months so they can start collecting data, analyze insights and make smarter decisions. For more information about Bell's IoT solutions, please visit Bell.ca/IoT. About the City of Kingston About Bell The Bell Let's Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let's Talk Day, and provides significant Bell funding of mental health care and access, research and workplace leadership initiatives. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk. Media inquiries City of Kingston Bell Bell investor inquiries Thane Fotopoulos
SOURCE Bell Canada |