Smart cities can compile, interpret, and apply "big" data to improve the delivery of urban services. Monitoring the number and spacing of vehicles and pedestrians can confirm that we are enforcing social distancing and strict infection controls, and social distancing enforcement and technology expansion could become the new normal for manufacturers to restart operations. Technologies can analyze infection patterns and improve responses, but they require infrastructure support.
This is where the analogy of the interstate highway system is instructive. Before the creation of interstate highways in the 1950s, a federal highway system was in place. The Disney movie "Cars" shows what happens to the towns that bypass the interstate, while the cities that go side of the interstate thrive.
5G is the new interstate.
Our current 4G system has been handling a lot of data traffic during the pandemic, but has done its best. One study estimated that 59 U.S. cities showed signs of potential cyber stress in the week ending March 28, with 13 out of 5 cities experiencing an average speed drop of 20 or less. Imagine trying to work from home without accessing data, it's almost impossible. And 5G allows us to collect and analyze data faster.