## 7 Conclusions  
In this paper, various architectures involving 5G and LPWAN-IoT and Smart Cities are explored. This includes security challenges as well as endogenous security and solutions in 5G and LPWAN-IoT. The problem of Quality of Service (QoS)/Quality of Experience (QoE) in different application requirements and varying end-users are considered. The slicing of virtual networks based on different QoS to satisfy different services and QoE is discussed. Also, the problem of cell edge interference together with its impact on users in the 5G and LPWAN-IoT network is uncovered. A strategy involving the implementation of 5G jointly with Weightless-N (TVWS) technologies to reduce the cell edge interference is presented. Discussions on the need for ubiquitous connectivity using non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) such as LEO satellite integration with LPWAN-IoT, which resulted in a ubiquitous IoT solution called 5G NB-IoT NTN are presented. Also, a 5G IoT comprising 5G eMTC, 5G NB2-IoT, and 5G RedCap IoT device solution has been advocated in supporting varying IoT applications in the smart city ecosystem. Further, this paper also presents smart cities application grouping concerning various application technical requirements. this will enable an IoT designer to identify at a glance an appropriate LPWAN device that would be suitable for given IoT applications. In addition, future research directions which include recommendations such as the need for LEO satellite communications in ubiquitous IoT coverage; the use of ML, AI/ANN, SDN, and NFV for improved security solutions in IoT are discussed. This includes support for asymmetric cryptographic encryption algorithms for LPWAN-IoT. Furthermore, findings and recommendations are made with respect to some aspects such as backhaul connectivity for LPWAN-IoT, 5G RedCap IoT end device (ED) for medium to high bandwidth IoT applications, and 5G NB-IoT NTN for ubiquitous connectivity. Finally, a unified 5G and LPWAN-IoT architecture is discussed. The unified 5G architecture is expected to holistically support integration with emerging technologies and endogenous security for improved/secured smart cities and remote area IoT applications. **Author Contributions:** Conceptualization, E.U.O. ; methodology, E.U.O. ; software, E.U.O. and A.M.K. ; validation, E.U.O., A.M.A.-M. and A.M.K. ; formal analysis, E.U.O., A.M.A.-M. and A.M.K. ; investigation, E.U.O. ; resources, A.M.A.-M. and A.M.K. ; data curation, E.U.O. ; writing--original draft preparation, E.U.O. ; writing--review and editing, A.M.A.-M. and A.M.K. ; visualization, E.U.O. ; supervision, A.M.A.-M. and A.M.K. ; project administration, E.U.O., A.M.A.-M. and A.M.K. ; funding acquisition, A.M.A.-M. and A.M.K. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. **Funding:** This research received no external funding. **Institutional Review Board Statement:** Not applicable. **Informed Consent Statement:** Not applicable. **Data Availability Statement:** Not applicable. **Acknowledgments:** Author acknowledged the resources provided by CSIR, Pretoria and F'SATI at Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria in support of this research. **Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest.