DeSantis's Economic Transition Team Talks 'Smart Infrastructure,' 5G Wireless And Smart Cities

WiFi signal on highways, statewide 5G cell phone service and “smart cities” friendly to automated vehicles; all that and more could be the future of Florida’s economy. At least, that’s according to those advising DeSantis on the economy. “I think we need to get to a point where we’re looking at smart infrastructure in that State of Florida,” said Ananth Prasad, former secretary of Florida’s Department of Transportation and President-Designate of the Florida Transportation Builders’ Association. Prasad describes “smart infrastructure” as a system in which automated cars can “communicate” with the infrastructure around them, as well as other self-driving vehicles. To Prasad, the technology represents an opportunity to increase safety. “If you think about the fatalities on State roads in the State of Florida – 80 percent of those fatalities are because of driver error,” Prasad said. Joe York, president of AT&T Florida, explained a bit about what 5G wireless service is and how it will make commerce move.