July 7, 2025 The smart city building competition is well under way. Across the U.S., cities, developers, and utilities are investing in infrastructure for connectivity, sustainability, and mobility. What they all have in common is one essential building block: smart city infrastructure.
To bring smart cities into existence, planners must think beyond isolated utility infrastructure. Instead, the marriage of electric vehicle (EV) charging and telecommunications infrastructure provides a platform for strong digital services, transport innovation, and future-proof cities.
We’ll explore why integration of EV and telecom systems is crucial to making truly smart cities and how organizations like KMB Design Group are already doing it.
What is Smart City Infrastructure?
Smart city infrastructure is the digital technology-driven system of physical infrastructure upon which data-based services and resource optimization within the urban context occur. Examples include:
- GRID and cloud-linked EV charging stations
- Fiber optic telco networks powering real-time information
- IoT sensors managing traffic, lighting, and utilities
- Switched energy storage and renewable power systems
These infrastructures work best if they are planned collaboratively. It is for this reason that EV and telecom integration has become a cornerstone of cutting-edge smart city planning.
The Case for EV and Telecom Integration
Cities are facing mounting pressure to bring their infrastructure up to speed. Urban design must integrate sensors, data analytics, and automated systems to support EV uptake and digital connectivity. Combining EV charging with telecom planning enables:
- Streamlined installation: Dual-use trenching and conduit paths reduce labor and material costs
- Smart features: EV charging is dependent on telecom networks for payment, diagnostics, and load control
- Future-proof scalability: Fiber with high speeds supports advanced analytics, remote monitoring, and grid coordination
Smart EV charging networks improve load balancing, conserve energy, and offer superior user experience, particularly when integrated with broadband connectivity, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Real World Applications for Smart City Infrastructure
Municipal Fleets and Public Charging
Telecom infrastructure is at the center of a transition period for municipal fleets—such as buses, police vehicles, and service vans—from gas to electric. EV and telecom integrated systems enable real-time diagnostics, dynamic scheduling, and load monitoring, which are essential for securing operational efficiency and achieving uptime maximization.
Without the telecom connections, these public charging networks would lack the smart attributes that make fleet electrification efficient and scalable.
Smart Parking and Mobility Hubs
Mobility hubs with EV charging, public Wi-Fi, and ride-share pickup and dropoff are becoming the cornerstones of modern transport. Telecommunications-enabled infrastructure allows these hubs to provide real-time traffic information, facilitate frictionless digital payments, and coordinate connected micro-modes of mobility like scooters and bicycles. Integration implies that EV charging is part of a broader, tech-enabled system that facilitates multimodal transport.
Sustainability and Resiliency Initiatives
EV and telecommunications integration is key to supporting cities to reach their goals of sustainability and to create infrastructure resilience. Networked charging facilities can track carbon emissions in real-time, distribute power loads based on renewable sources, and enhance coordination with local utilities. These systems both optimize energy and allow longer-term flexibility in the face of environmental and infrastructure hardship.
How KMB Helps Cities Build Smarter
KMB Design Group is a trusted engineering partner to developers and municipalities leading smart infrastructure initiatives. We deliver end-to-end, integrated solutions tailored for complex city landscapes by leveraging thorough in-house expertise in EV charging, telecom and fiber infrastructure.
By having all aspects of infrastructure design in-house, KMB makes it easy to coordinate with regulators and utilities, speeds up project delivery, and ensures that all systems are ADA compliant and future-proof. From multi-campus development to urban infill, KMB provides cities with scalable, networked infrastructure supporting innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence.
Top Planning Strategies for Municipal Officials
Local governments must:
- Involve telecom and EV engineers in the early capital planning
- Design with modular expansion in mind
- Avoid platform and provider lock-in with interoperability
- Leverage federal and state infrastructure grants
- Coordinate permitting and construction when it is feasible
The Future of Smart Infrastructure
The future smart city will depend on tightly coupled systems that bring EV charging, telecom connectivity, and data infrastructure together from the outset. As AI, 5G, and e-mobility remake urban functionality, visionary infrastructure planning is mission-critical today.
EV and telecom integration enables smarter delivery of services, more grid-smart management, and efficient use of public resources. It also opens the door to broader objectives such as carbon neutrality and economic resilience. In short, smart infrastructure investment in cities today will position them to best master the urban landscape of tomorrow.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What infrastructure is needed to support smart cities?
Smart cities require integrated infrastructure that combines electric vehicle (EV) charging, high-speed telecom networks, IoT sensors, and energy-efficient systems. These elements work together to enable real-time data, digital mobility services, smart energy management, and future-proof utility planning. A unified design approach reduces redundancy and creates a scalable foundation for long-term growth.
How do EV charging and telecom systems work together in smart city development?
EV charging systems rely on telecom networks—such as fiber or 5G—to operate digital functions like payment processing, load balancing, remote monitoring, and diagnostics. When these systems are integrated in the design phase, cities can streamline installation, reduce costs, and enable advanced smart mobility services that support broader sustainability and connectivity goals.
What are the long-term benefits of smart city infrastructure for B2B developers?
B2B developers that invest in smart city infrastructure gain competitive advantages like reduced permitting delays, increased property value, enhanced sustainability scores (e.g., LEED), and long-term cost savings through integrated systems. With growing demand for connected, energy-efficient environments, these projects are also more attractive to tenants, municipalities, and public-private partnerships.