Connected Cities Event Highlights Digital Innovation in Miami-Dade
This is part two of a two-part series on the Connected Cities event held in Miami-Dade County.
On February 5, 2025, the South Florida Information Technology Community convened in Miami-Dade County for the Connected Cities Tour event. The focus of the discussion was how connected infrastructure is a critical enabler for innovations designed to improve public safety, transportation, education, and other vital government services.
The event was hosted by Raimundo Rodulfo, Chief Innovation Officer of Coral Gables, at the city’s high-tech public safety building. This facility houses the Emergency Operations Center, along with the Police, Fire, and Information Technology Departments. Rodulfo’s keynote centered on the role of digital infrastructure in supporting core city services.
He highlighted the practical challenges of deploying technology in both outdoor and indoor environments and explored the vital role of poles and towers in driving both the economics and the capacity to service all areas of the city. Considerations like safety, aesthetics, and proximity are crucial when developing any “smart city” plan. Coral Gables, known as “The City Beautiful,” aims to integrate technology seamlessly, working with partners on innovative solutions that prioritize functionality and appearance. The city’s “Smart Pole” deployments, which incorporate network gear, video surveillance, sound detection, and transportation technology, are examples of this.
Following Rodulfo, Fire Chief Marcos De La Rosa spoke, praising Rodulfo and his team for their ability to devise solutions to challenges faced by public safety professionals. He emphasized the critical importance of speed: “Seconds matter and can mean the difference between life and death.” Digital infrastructure, he noted, plays a crucial role by providing technology that allows first responders to react faster and gain better situational awareness through cameras, traffic signal prioritization, and sensors.
The conversation then transitioned to a panel discussion, focusing on Private Wireless Networks using LTE and 5G transmission technologies—a concept that Chief De La Rosa connected to the needs of his team. These networks allow various entities such as governments, universities, hospitals, and businesses to deploy their own cellular networks, providing high-bandwidth coverage. The panel featured Jamaal Smith, vice president of Kajeet, Rory McCabe from Dejero, Nelson Gonzalez from the City of Coral Gables, and David Crenshaw of Nokia.
David Crenshaw of Nokia provided a detailed overview of Private LTE and Private 5G networks and discussed their increasing adoption by airports, ports, universities, cities, and counties. He described Miami International Airport’s adoption of this technology, which supports connectivity for everything from sensors to handheld devices, which airlines increasingly need. This enables the airport to expand bandwidth and coverage while maintaining network security and uptime. Rory McCabe added that these networks can be integrated with public networks for seamless connectivity.
Jamaal Smith discussed Kajeet’s managed service model, in which they own, deploy, and manage the network for clients. Advantages include 24/7 monitoring and cost efficiencies. Smith noted that in certain instances, the network functions as a backhaul/fronthaul technology for Wi-Fi. The panel agreed that private networks and Wi-Fi should be seen as enhancements to public networks. These private networks use both licensed and unlicensed technology and can outperform Wi-Fi by providing broader coverage, higher device capacity, and more effective signal penetration. In high-density environments, private networks can manage multiple devices simultaneously more efficiently than Wi-Fi, without compromising performance.
The City of Coral Gables utilizes multiple network technologies and owns fiber optics throughout its Smart Corridor. Nelson Gonzalez echoed Chief De La Rosa’s comments about the 24/7 network requirements. He stated that Private 5G has the potential to dynamically focus connectivity and bandwidth where it’s most needed. The Connected Cities Tour is scheduled to visit Silicon Valley on April 23, 2025.
Peter Murray, the Executive Director of Dense Networks, produced and moderated the Connected Cities Tour. He has 40 years of experience in telecommunications and provides consulting services to governments and ISPs regarding federal and state funding.
This Expert Opinion is exclusive to Broadband Breakfast.
