An independent, state-of-the-art wireless network will place the capital at the forefront of technological progress.
By DANIEL K. EISENBUDWiFi hotspot allows connectivity for up to five devices(photo credit: Courtesy)
Jerusalem is the first city and municipality in the country to receive the Communications Ministry’s approval to set up an independent wireless communications network utilizing cutting-edge millimeter wave technology.According to the municipality, the state-of-the-art wireless network will bypass the installation of optic fibers and transmission lines, which are expensive, take extended periods to install and can be disruptive for the public.The new technology will feature a camera network, monitoring and emergency services, smart-parking solutions, fast Internet for the city’s education system, free wi-fi service throughout the capital and transmission of data communication at especially high speeds.Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat lauded the development as positioning the capital alongside the world’s leading smart cities.“We are bringing the most advanced technological innovations to one of the most ancient cities in the world,” the mayor said. “Jerusalem will be the first city in all of Israel to introduce this innovative technology, which will enable us to upgrade many services for our residents.”Eitan Barzilay, head of the municipality’s business, economic, and technological development, described the network as an unprecedented breakthrough in Israel.“Implementing the new technology in the city is an advanced solution to the problem of optic fiber installation that stems from the special geological structure of Jerusalem, as compared to many cities around the world,” said Barzilay.“The Jerusalem Municipality is adopting an innovative technology that has proven itself around the world to build a communication infrastructure for a smart and safe city.”Moreover, Barzilay said the municipal communication network will improve security, as well as the quality of service for residents, while significantly decreasing the municipality’s expenses.“With this system, which will include HD and 4K-HD cameras, the municipality will be able to see everything that happens at hundreds of critical sites throughout the city in real time, and thus be able to prepare, deploy forces and control events more effectively,” he said.
“This advanced communication network is the first of its kind in the world to transmit high-quality videos to the city control center and to security forces.”Barzilay emphasized that the frequencies used by the network are secure and safe, adding that there is no risk of privacy violations.“Because of the high frequency and narrow transmission beam, the equipment emits especially low radiation – even lower than a regular home router,” he explained.The municipality is scheduled to install the millimeter wave technology within the next three months, with dozens of connections to be activated by the end of the year, Barzilay said.