Smart cities, better living: The private 5G revolution is here
Play the video: The City of Las Vegas and NTT DATA shape the future of urban living
Other use cases include public safety, where AI-powered cameras can monitor crowds in real time. If a fight breaks out or another emergency arises, instant alerts can be sent to city staff.
And when city authorities can process hundreds of gigabytes of data per hour, they can predict where new schools, bus routes or public facilities will be needed, all before a community starts feeling the strain.
The human side: Bridging the digital divide
High-speed networks, high-tech sensors and data-driven dashboards can deliver intelligence, but information alone does not make a city “smart.” Smart cities use technology to the benefit of residents and, taking this a step further, smart inclusive cities distribute those benefits fairly, closing the digital divide and creating more equitable access to social and economic opportunities.
For example, in areas where a lack of broadband access prevents children from attending online classes, the deployment of private 5G would give these students and their families reliable internet access — allowing them not only to get their homework done on time but also to stay connected to the world.
This is what makes private 5G so powerful: it can close the digital divide while also powering advanced applications.
Adaptable and affordable: A shift in the model
One of the biggest misconceptions about private 5G is that it’s too expensive for cities. Traditionally, rolling out new infrastructure required massive up-front investment — with the prospect of ripping it all out and replacing it in the not-too-distant future to support the demands of new technology. But now, models like network as a service are flipping the script.
Instead of buying all the equipment outright, cities can subscribe to private 5G and pay a managed service provider (MSP) a predictable fee for everything from network design and deployment to maintenance. And, as technology evolves, cities don’t need to rip out old systems. They can build on what’s already there and evolve by testing, learning and scaling new ideas.
In the US, the democratization of spectrum such as Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) already lets cities set up their own private cellular networks instead of relying only on large phone companies. This makes it cheaper and easier for them to roll out private 5G.
Partnerships with MSPs, device manufacturers and application developers pay off in other ways, too. An expert MSP can advise city authorities on balancing edge computing and cloud computing in a way that limits storage and transmission costs while supporting fast, accurate decision-making.
It’s already happening
NTT DATA was named a Visionary in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for 4G and 5G Private Mobile Network Services.*
In Las Vegas, we’re building the largest municipal private 5G network in the US, connecting parks, schools and traffic systems. Beyond reducing wrong-way accidents, it’s saving the city more than $1 million per year through optimized patrols and fewer collisions.
And in Brownsville, our private 5G rollout is linking public spaces, the airport and city services, giving residents and businesses access to modern infrastructure as part of the city’s transformation from “worst connected” to a model of digital inclusion.
How we do it:
- Private 5G platform: A comprehensive, fully managed and turnkey solution that covers everything from network equipment and design to deployment and managed services. This platform was built with security, control and privacy in mind.
- Smart Solutions: We use new and existing data-collection devices to establish citywide IoT networks, integrating AI and machine-learning analytics to provide real-time and predictive insights. For scalability, this managed service can be hosted on platforms like Microsoft Azure.
- Edge AI platform: We integrate data from diverse sensors and devices into a single data plane, enabling real-time insights and efficient decision-making right at the network edge.
- Network as a Service: We offer private networks as a flexible, subscription-based service, streamlining procurement and ensuring compatibility with digital transformation initiatives.
A new way to think about cities
Private 5G is the foundation of a new way to think about cities. It’s the invisible infrastructure that keeps traffic flowing, families connected and communities safe.
Smart cities powered by private 5G networks won’t just be “smarter” in a technological sense. They’ll also be more human, designed around the needs of people. From keeping kids connected to preventing accidents before they happen, this technology is quietly rewriting what it means to live in a city.