Three U.S. and one Australian city joined the US Ignite Smart Gigabit Communities Program, the federal public-private non-profit partnership announced Sept. 26. Adelaide, Australia became Smart Gigabit Communities’ first international partner, joining Albuquerque, New Mexico; Salisbury, North Carolina; and Washington, D.C., US Ignite highlights in a news release.
An initial set of 15 U.S. communities joined in the launch of the Smart Gigabit Communities initiative in June with the goal of creating a network that encompasses gigabit networks and smart city technology. Each Smart Gigabit Community will develop two advanced technology solutions that include gigabit network or gigabit public services applications. Those will be shared with other participants.
US Ignite Smart Gigabit Communities
“Solving society’s most vexing problems requires global thinking,” US Ignite COO Joe Kochan stated in press release about the four new cities in the US Ignite Smart Gigabit Communities program. “That’s why we’re pleased to have these four new cities, including our first international city, Adelaide, join the Smart Gigabit Communities program.
“This project will accelerate the development of next-generation applications while building a critical mass of hyper-connected communities which will have ripple effects: if advanced networks are fast, responsive, and widely available, companies can and will produce more capable applications to run on those networks, which in turn brings new users online and increases use among those who already subscribe to broadband services,” Kochan said.
Other announced US Ignite Smart Gigabit Communities include:
- Burlington, VT
- Chattanooga and Jackson, TN
- Cleveland, OH
- Flint, MI
- Kansas City, KS and MO
- Madison, WI
- North Carolina Next Generation Network (NCNGN)
- Richardson, TX
- Utah Wasatch Front cities including Salt Lake City and Provo, UT
- Lafayette, LA
- Urbana-Champaign, IL
- Austin, TX
