2.4.4.1 Johannesburg, South Africa,- Local Government Applications

The City of Johannesburg has installed its own licensed private telecommunications network operating in the 5GHz and 18 GHz spectrum for both backhaul and last mile connectivity.  The system is being used for internal City use to replace more costly telecommunications services being provided by the incumbent carrier, resulting in significant efficiences to the City.  The next phase of the project will involve the development of a wireless broadband infrastructure incorporating fibre and BPL technologies that will be made available for access on a wholesale basis.  The City will act as an anchor tenant and capacity will be made available for ISPs and other service providers.  The network will be used for public service purposes, such as connecting schools and extending broadband services into underserved areas.

2.4.4.2 Portsmouth, England – Intelligent Transportation[xxxi]

In October 2004, Portsmouth City Council announced the initiation of its PORTAL(Portsmouth Online Real Time Traveller) Project designed to improve the provision of public transportation services to the 41,000 daily bus passengers in this City of about 200,000 people.  PORTAL combines the provision of a Real Time Bus Passenger Information system (RTPI) with a wireless broadband (Wi-Fi) network that transmits information and Internet services to bus shelters equipped with display and touch screens.

Data collected from the On-Board Units (OBUs) on the fleet of 300 buses is wirelessly transmitted to central servers at the Portsmouth City Council Traffic Control Centre (TCC). The information is processed and wirelessly transmitted to bus shelters equipped with Real Time Information display screens and fully integrated information touch screens. These provide passengers with a range of services including up to the minute bus arrival times, timetables, free email and a broad range of travel and information services.

This system using a wireless broadband network is much less expensive to operate than that using GPRS technology.  PORTAL delivers real time tracking, two way communications and data that provides for more effective management of the system.  As a result of the success with this network, Portsmouth now plans to switch its urban traffic control data from fixed line networks over to its wireless network.  This will result in an estimated annual saving to the Council of over £70,000 a year in telephony charges alone.

2.4.4.3 Town of Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada – Innovative Service Delivery[xxxii]

The Town of Tillsonburg received the 2001 Distinction Award Gold Medal for “Innovative Service Delivery in Municipalities” because of its success in improving municipal operations and delivery of services through the implementation of a comprehensive information technology plan over the county owned (COIN) broadband network.

This Town of 15,000 was recognised as a leader in the development of a better-serviced and more efficient community through widespread deployment of e-government. In a report prepared by INS Consulting (2003), it was noted that the level of service being provided by the local government was second to none and that this was supported by survey results from residents and businesses in the community.

This e-Government initiative began as a response in 1999 to the basic inefficiencies that were occurring in the local administration due to all internal communications being paper-based and non-integrated financial and management systems that contributed to extensive time delays in the provision of both internal and external services. The options to streamline service delivery were to maintain the current system and increase staffing levels or reduce service offerings or to take advantages of efficiencies offered by ICT and broadband-based Internet technologies.

Through its application of e-government over the period from 1999-2002, the Town realised $2.1 million (all amounts are in Canadian dollars) in cost savings and efficiency gains at a cost of $1.3 million.  It achieved a 58% increase in customer service hours, increased revenues through outsourcing and greater customer satisfaction levels.  The keys to its success were connectivity, leadership, training, IT planning and speed of deployment.

2.4.4.4 Corpus Christi, Texas – Automated Meter Reading[xxxiii]

Corpus Christi is one of an increasing number of cities that are installing their own networks to automate municipal owned utility services in a bid to reduce costs and achieve improved operating efficiencies.  After a successful pilot project, Corpus Christi recently awarded a $23 million to Northrop Grumman Corporation to provide a city wide broadband network and automated meter reading (AMR) system.  The network will also be used for general municipal purposes and public safety.

he first application will be to equip the city with an automated water reading meter system that collects water meter data from residential and business equipped with AMR meters and transmits the data over the City wireless network to the customer information and billing system.  This will result in significant savings to the City, as field personnel will no longer be required to manually read meters every month.

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