IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

Though it has been less than a year since the European Commission first unveiled its historic, €750 billion recovery package of loans and grants to lift the European Union out of a COVID-induced economic crisis, the narrative surrounding the “Next Generation EU” plan has shifted in the run-up to a deadline for EU member states to submit their national recovery plans for approval at the end of this month.

When the Commission first presented its stimulus plan last May, analysts and media outlets hailed the EU’s “groundbreaking stimulus” and its ‘Hamiltonian’ willingness to finally break its “bond taboo.” More recent coverage of Next Generation EU, however, has focused on growing concern over bureaucratic and legal hurdles to the disbursement of funds. On the other side of the Atlantic, and in contrast to the concerns being voiced in Europe, a new administration in the United States has used its first few months in office to push through a $1.9 trillion “American Rescue Plan,” immediately followed by a $2 trillion infrastructure spending package now under consideration by Congress.

Das Internet erfreut sich einer steigenden Beliebtheit. Immer mehr Menschen surfen in ihm mit verschiedenen Geräten, die alle eine Web- oder Internetprotokoll-Adresse (IP) benötigen. Eine Folge dieser steigenden Nachfrage ist, dass die Adressen im Internet bald aufgebraucht sein werden.

Under the agreement with NITA (National Information Technology Agency), Alcatel-Lucent will also manage network operations of Ghana’s entire ‘e-government’ program for three years commencing November 2012. The e-Ghana initiative is aimed at developing local IT services and improving the transparency and efficiency of government functions.

With the passage of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, much-needed funds are starting to trickle down to states and cities. But how will localities spend their share?

While our nation’s roads, bridges, and highways need attention, the legislation also offers new opportunities for state and local agencies to lay the infrastructure of the future. And with two-thirds of the world’s population expected to live in cities by 2050, smart cities are a top priority.

Quick Summary:

• The past has been a proof that cheap and free are two words often thrown into the mobile sector, but seldom solved an issue.
• They have to be supplemented with good infrastructure.

Mobile phone ownership and coverage made a lot of progress as compared to essential factors like sanitation. More Indian households have access to a cell phone, than a toilet. Google’s Android and affordable handset makers have been instrumental in deep penetration of mobile usage in the country.

• South Africa's G20 Presidency has set its agenda for digital public infrastructure (DPI) and AI.
• Yielding DPI's benefits depends on how countries design and implement it.
• The UNDP is partnering with South Africa’s G20 Presidency to advance action on DPI and AI for the Sustainable Development Goals.

Digital technologies hold immense potential for economies’ long-term development. South Africa, through its G20 Presidency, is seizing this transformative opportunity to prioritize digital public infrastructure (DPI) and artificial intelligence (AI), both critical enablers of digital transformation, on this year’s G20 digital agenda.

GPS will be the contracting authority for services for customers such as local authorities, regional broadband consortia, maintained schools, free schools, academies, further education colleges and the skills sector.

The framework agreement, which is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), will replace the Becta ICT services framework of October 2010.

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• Kingston-Upon-Thames is working with Boldyn Networks to deploy a smart infrastructure pilot with smart columns providing high-speed connectivity

The Kingston smart infrastructure pilot will see 20 CCTV sites with the smart columns deployed with scope to add IoT sensors to better manage borough services.

Kingston Council is partnering with Boldyn Networks to roll out a smart infrastructure pilot across the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames.

Infrastructure and connectivity specialist Connexin has announced the expansion of its alternative, full fibre network built into Beverley as it continues with its mission to provide a “greater choice of broadband services for residents throughout the North”.

Founded in Hull in 2006, Connexin proclaims itself to be an “innovative and disruptive” technology company specialising in building and operating award-winning Smart City infrastructure to support the Internet of Things.

The Project Pathway team, consisting of two local authorities and two private sector suppliers announced the launch of the UK's first compliant public services network (PSN). Project Pathway involved Hampshire and Kent county councils, Global Crossing, Virgin Media Business and the Cabinet Office's pan-government PSN team.

He explained that it would enable patients seeking clinical care to have their vital information electronically measured, processed and sent via internet without follow ups.

The 163 million dollars Exinbank package, according to Mr Bagbin, was being processed by the Ministry, for the E - health infrastructure, aimed at enhancing tele-medicine in Ghana.

He said: "It is our hope that it will improve our financial services, improve the health services and the educational system and transform the agriculture sector through value addition."

Vice President Mahama lauded the steady growth of telecommunication services in Ghana with over 17 million subscribers, giving a teledensity of 75 percent compared to less than three per cent in 1997.

The Ghana Information and Communication Technology Directorate (GICTeD) launched the Enterprise Architecture (EA) and the E-Government Interoperability Framework (e-GIF) projects to facilitate the exchange of data between government agencies, public institutions and other relevant sectors to improve public sector service delivery.

The Glo 1 facility has been built with leading technologies backed by Globacom and Alcatel-Lucent and is set to transform the country’s communications landscape and present Ghanaian businesses with new opportunities of bridging the digital gap between Ghana and the rest of the world.

The 9,800km long submarine cable network, the first project of its kind to be executed entirely by a single organisation, berthed on the beaches of Osu in Accra.

"We are happy to announce that the wait is over and the Glo 1 is now ready to go live. The relevant tests have been concluded and the facility is now ready to carry traffic," Mr Adewale Sangowawa, Executive Director, Globacom told journalists ahead of the launch later on Friday.

Nigeria has the highest number of Internet users in Africa, at 43 million, surpassing South Africa, the largest economy. A report released by the ITU last week shows Nigeria's online community growing at a fast pace and Google products were the most visited by 43 million out of a population of 150 million.

Report by Arup reveals that AI can help projects stay on time, on budget, and help tackle the climate crisis, but there are concerns about big tech dominating further AI development.

More than a third (36 per cent) of engineers, architects, and city planners are already relying on artificial intelligence (AI) in their daily work, reports a new survey.

The research was commissioned by global sustainable development consultancy Arup and the findings are published in the report, Embracing AI: Reshaping Today’s Cities and Built Environment. It examines attitudes and adoption of AI by those shaping cities across 10 countries: Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Singapore the UK and the US.

As urban populations grow and technology advances, cities worldwide are adopting smart city innovations to enhance everyday life. A smart city integrates digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and sustainable solutions to improve urban efficiency, safety, and quality of life. These developments impact everything from transportation and energy consumption to public services and work environments. Here’s how smart cities are reshaping the way we live and work.

The schools run by the Greater Chennai Corporation will now have Wi-Fi facilities under the Smart City Project.

According to a Corporation official, providing Wi-Fi connections to the civic body-run schools is a part of upgrading digital infrastructure at the campuses under the City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS) initiative.

“Even though the physical infrastructure will be upgraded only at 28 select schools, Wi-Fi and other digital infrastructure will be provided to all the schools,” the official said.

Pinarayi assures Centre of continued cooperation in implementing works

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated a bevy of infrastructure projects in Kerala, including the 2,000-MW Pugalur-Thrissur high voltage direct current (HVDC) power transmission corridor.

He said the power transmission corridor would ensure the transfer of a large quantum of power from the national grid to the State and guarantee reliable access to electricity.