Smart Infrastructure AM

Montreal has received an investment of $854m from Bell in order to implement the fastest broadband fiber technology directly to homes and businesses across the city. This investment is expected to create an estimated 2,700 new jobs and generate $2.2bn in economic activity. The incredible new infrastructure will provide direct links to 1.1 million residences and business locations - and will firmly place Monteal at the forefront of the global 'Smart Cities' movement.

One of Brazil's largest cities is utilizing ‘smart data' in order to effectively overhaul its public transportation system. Belo Horizonte has a population of over 2million and contains the third largest metropolitan agglomeration in the South American country. Public transportation in the form of buses is the preferred method of travel for the majority of Belo Horizonte's residents.

Customers at a leading American financial institution can now withdraw money from an ATM by using their smartphone. Wells Fargo have introduced card-less ATMs across the US in a massive digital push. Depositors from Well Fargo can extract cash from any of its branded ATMs - which is another indicative measure of US lenders desire to move away from traditional forms of banking into a new era of digitization.

Apple employees are set to fulfill the vision of late founder Steve Jobs by moving into their futuristic new 'spaceship' campus in Silicon Valley. Apple employs are 12,000 people- so workers will embark on a gradual process of transitioning from its old HQ to the new campus throughout the year. The first number of employees to board the spaceship campus is expected to take place in April. Jobs envisioned the futuristic headquarters as a 'center for creativity and collaboration' and a theatre on the new Apple Park has been named in honor of the inventor who transformed Apple into the biggest technology companies in the world. Jobs sadly passed away in 2011 aged just 56.

AT&T joined with Current, powered by GE, and Southern Company subsidiary Georgia Power to test intelligent lighting solutions in Atlanta. The Atlanta smart city project adds momentum to the growing smart city movement in progress across the U.S.