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allow consumers and utilities to track energy and water usage in real time – helping users to cut the cost of their household bills. In the US, 38.5 per cent of electricity is used by the residential sector3 – if consumers understand their own energy usage, this could be significantly reduced in the years ahead. Taken in isolation, these two examples are unlikely to push the international community towards their environmental goals. However, combining numerous data sources can offer the insight necessary to make more efficient business decisions in order to drive real change.The data collected from these connections is nothing without a communications network that is fit for purpose. A dedicated, secure, reliable and resilient utility-grade communications network is the essential foundation upon which an intelligent, critical and national infrastructure should be built. Where water was the lifeblood of historical societies, the communities of the future will run on data. Water allowed early civilizations to grow and flourish, and data could act as the catalyst for progress today – but only if it is leveraged effectively.THE DATA REVOLUTION HAS ONLY JUST BEGUNGartner analysts predict that in 2020 almost 1.4 billion connected sensors, meters and other devices will be installed in cities globally. Of these, approximately half a billion will be dedicated to utilities. These devices enable individuals and communities to understand their energy and water usage, which may lead to a decrease that is necessary to drive climate change goals. For this to be achieved, the data generated must be accurate and easily available. For this reason, the communications network infrastructure behind these devices will be crucial. The network is often forgotten against the visible face of smart cities, but as the fundamental element, it is too important to implement incorrectly. As data collection and analysis becomes a core component in the city planning process, a reliable, utility-grade network is essential for connecting every piece of the puzzle. Two core strands will feed into this network – residential and industrial data. Both will need to run smoothly for consumers to have faith in meeting national and personal energy goals. As these technologies improve and transform the world as we know it, governments will increasingly add new elements to their smart cities. Eventually all of the mission-critical infrastructure that communities depend on will move onto networks that are fit for purpose, with energy, water, and street lighting, all feeding into the same grid – and these are only a sampling of applications. Essential services are too important for the network connecting them to fail. In fact, Gartner predicts that half of all smart INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY 109