Connected cities: a fledgling project with a future

The cities connected are already a reality. Little by little we are seeing how the different systems of our cities will be connecting to the cloud. From the lighting, security cameras or cars themselves. In the end, all will be fully linked to the network.

Carlos Delso, Commercial Director of Huawei Enterprise, tells us his experience with projects that have started to perform with Vodafone, Orange or Telefonica in Madrid. The aim is that cities are increasingly connected and are thus more efficient. They are virtually pilot programs and there is still much to reach that city we imagine with all connected systems.

Rivas Vaciamadrid in, for example, Huawei has installed an evolution of a tetra network, critical communications network, used by police or firefighters. They have migrated to a more efficient emergency because it allows real-time video or geolocation LTE network. What was once just voice before, it is now high speed video and geolocation.

When recording an act of crime and save it directly to the cloud, it is no longer possible to delete it while it is accessible to all the police, with all the benefits that entails. "The problem is the frequency. We talk about old radio concessions and remains an expensive spectrum, "says Carlos Delso. "The need exists she continues, 'because in critical communication networks has always invested because it is necessary. Security services, which are essential, be the first to change. But it is only the beginning, a part of the city connected. "

"There are still many issues to resolve to reach the connected and efficient city that we all hope, but every day we are closer to it '
Actually, when we talk about the connected cities, the great challenge lies in the standardization and everything can be integrated with other components: from street lamps bulbs to light counters. Only decide which sensors have priority over the rest is a step forward. "We are not aware of the number of devices that will connect in the coming years. We'll have millions of devices sending information. We are at the beginning of the connected city, but we do not know, even remotely, where they will get, "said the expert.

Narrowband is another one of those protocols that are not yet standardized, with many advantages, such as reduced energy consumption. For example, a parking sensor can last up to 10 years without needing to change the network or install new infrastructure. Thus, the fact of having to look for parking and leads directly to the open space would have been assigned to be over.

In addition, narrowband allow manufacture cheap devices such as water valves, which can be opened and closed remotely. Also, you can keep track of pets, the elderly, children, connected ... "We will find new possibilities"

Carlos Delso states how energy savings, fines and parking come first because they are profitable on their own and are financed themselves. If a city comes to energy efficiency, such as the illuminations, the numbers are on their own for any municipality. In other systems, however, it is more complicated because they have no immediate economic return. "There are still many issues to resolve to reach the connected and efficient city that we all hope, but every day we are closer to it," he says.

Mediatek is dumped into the Internet of things

J.M.NIEVES | BARCELONA

It may be one of the most dangerous competitors of Qualcomm, especially in mobile input ranges and a half. Mediatek processors indeed are present in an increasing number of smartphones. The reason: a price very content and exceptional performance. Two characteristics that place the firm in a prime position when we are through the door leading to the connected world, the internet of things. Today, already one billion products are sold worldwide with Mediatek technology. For example, three out of five of the TVs that exist on Earth.

In this edition of MWC, the company introduces new products designed specifically for photographic devices and to improve the quality of images on the screen. And also the first solutions based on artificial intelligence and will, for example, smartphones recognize the face of their owners. In Spain, Mediatek dominates the phone market "white brand" of several Spanish operators, from Vodafone to Orange. And national brands like WIKO or Wolder.

The new Helio P20, for example, is a processor of medium / high range with 16 nanometer technology, 20% more powerful than the previous model and 50% less memory consumption. Like other P series processors, can build thinner and much processing power phones. Hi-fi audio support and high quality images.

Mediatek this year also features a biometric sensor, called MT2511 Biosensig, specially designed for integration into wearables devices (watches and bracelets) and measure our constant Biometric. And a complete processor to "smartwarches" MT2523, which has been all integrated sensors.

Companies like HTC or Sony are already beginning to incorporate processors Mediatek in some of its most advanced products, and the company says that very soon we will begin to also see in the flagships of the most renowned manufacturers.