The concept of smart cities, or Smart cities, has gone from being a futuristic exercise to becoming a reality under construction, driven by data, connectivity, and artificial intelligence. We live in a time when technology and urbanism definitively meet, and at this intersection, the telecommunications sector plays an absolutely central role. As a technology executive with decades of experience in digital transformation projects, I have witnessed this evolution firsthand. More than infrastructure, we are the driving forces behind a new way of living in cities.
My career, which ranges from organizing the 2016 Rio Olympic Games to digitalization projects at global events like the Qatar World Cup, has shown that there is no smart city without a smart grid. And a smart grid isn't limited to antennas and cables. It's an ecosystem of sensors, data, and computing power that transforms raw information into assertive decisions. The technological tripod that supports Smart cities, sensors, data and artificial intelligence, depends on a fundamental partner: Telecom.
At Ligga Telecom, our mission is to offer the best connectivity in Paraná, but our ambition goes beyond internet speed. We are committed to digital inclusion, public efficiency, and improving urban life. To achieve this, we adopt a data-driven culture. Every investment, expansion, or technical support decision is based on the integrated analysis of our BI systems, which gather data on service, network, customer behavior, and quality indicators. This intersection is what allows us to customize solutions and prioritize actions that generate the greatest social impact.
Cities like Curitiba are already demonstrating how the intelligent collection and use of data can transform urban management. When citizens are treated as customers and their needs are monitored in real time, it's possible to generate more effective public policies and more inclusive urban environments. Connectivity thus becomes a new form of citizenship.
Our work with the state government, connecting schools in rural areas, illustrates this vision well. When we bring quality broadband to regions where there was previously no basic access, we are not only providing internet access, we are laying the foundation for a new generation of digital citizens. And to ensure this connectivity is sustainable and high-quality, we invest in Data Centers strategically located. Because latency is also citizenship: no one can wait minutes for a response in a world that moves in milliseconds.
Furthermore, artificial intelligence solutions demonstrate that the practical application of these technologies can and should begin at the customer's end. Monitoring Wi-Fi quality within the user's home, rather than just on the operator's equipment, is an example of how innovation can be guided by empathy and real-world user experience.
It's not just futuristic. Data shows that smart cities generated more than US$750 billion globally in 2023, according to an IDC report, and are expected to surpass US$1 trillion by 2026. This accelerated growth is driven by areas such as urban mobility, security, energy, and education, all of which rely heavily on robust connectivity and real-time data analysis.
The smart city of the future will be one capable of listening, learning, and acting in real time. And this will only be possible if there is an infrastructure ready to transform information into action. As Director of Information Technology, I am convinced that the urban future will be digital, and it is up to us, Telecom professionals, to ensure that it is also humane, inclusive, and sustainable. Because, ultimately, a city is only smart if it improves the lives of its residents. And this transformation begins with connection.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Marcelo Souza
Quelle/Source: TI Inside, 11.07.2025
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