As smart cities rely so much on wireless technology and the cloud, access to a high quality, ultra-fast connection and telecommunication services is vital for smooth operation. Therefore, the implementation of 5G in French cities is one of the milestones for these projects. Although decried, 5G is now a reality in France and the first network was activated in November 2020. Marseille is the French city with the most 5G antennas in the country and has almost twice as many as Paris and Montpellier. As for mobile operators, Orange is the leader in the sector and has installed a total of 367 5G antennas throughout France. The 5G will noticeably improve the quality and speed of the connection currently offered by the 4G, which covers almost the entire population.
Energy management is a major challenge for smart cities, whether managing waste, monitoring air quality or CO2 emissions. Smart meters for electricity, gas and water consumption would allow consumers to reduce their costs based on their actual consumption and adapt to their needs. The installation of smart grids in particular is one of the most carried out projects in France. These grids are a network that enables better distribution of electricity through communication between consumers and suppliers. The flow of electricity is managed in real time in order to limit losses.
Smart mobility is at the crossroads of different industries: transportation, energy, environment and digital. Moreover, it extends to peripheral sectors such as transport management or road safety. This complexity is at the heart of the challenges posed by this issue, which revolves around both service and infrastructure. Smart cars are a perfect example of the dilemma posed by this new technology, as many users question the safety of these new types of vehicles. However, these cars are designed to assist driving, managing control in case of danger or risk of accident, and parking. In France, the fleet of intelligent cars is growing rapidly and is becoming more and more popular on French streets.
