IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

Inkhosi Mlambo II indicated how the trust has already begun with the plans to build a smart city on the N4 corridor towards Komatipoort.

The Bambanani Mlambo Trust convened at Shonga Events on November 27 to finalise the alterations they wish to make to their title deed.

The trust unanimously voted to have their title deed amended from agricultural to commercial purposes, in line with their upcoming development plans. This was done in the presence of the chief director for land restitution support of the Mpumalanga Office of Land Reform and Rural Development, Sam Nkosi.

Napoli (Naples), the historic Italian city known for its rich cultural heritage and delectable cuisine, is stepping into the future with ambitious plans to transform into a leading smart city. As urban areas worldwide grapple with the challenges of modernization, Napoli is embracing cutting-edge technologies to enhance urban life and preserve its charm.

Leveraging the power of the Internet of Things (IoT), Napoli is integrating smart solutions across various sectors, enhancing public services, transportation, and environmental management. Smart Transportation is at the forefront of this transformation. With the implementation of real-time public transport tracking and smart ticketing systems, Napoli aims to improve commuter experience and reduce carbon footprints.

Senior BJP leader and MLA Bahu constituency, Vikram Randhawa, asserted that the ongoing Smart City Project will soon transform Jammu into a model city that sets a benchmark for urban development across the nation.

He made these remarks during a tour of Bahu constituency, where he kick-started various developmental works worth Rs 2.5 crore under the Smart City Mission in presence of JMC Commissioner Devansh Yadav. The projects included significant upgrades to infrastructure, such as improved drainage systems, road development and installation of smart lighting.

Mayor Poramet Ngamphichet chaired a meeting on December 13 to discuss the management strategy for the 5G Pattaya Smart City project, aiming to enhance urban governance and improve the quality of life in the EEC area.

Pattaya City has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Telecommunications Public Company Limited (NT) to collaborate on the 5G Smart City development. This cutting-edge technology will integrate smart poles across the city, connecting various municipal systems with secure and reliable data exchange. The system will enable data collection, such as surveillance footage, weather reports, heat detection, and vehicle license plate recognition, analyzed using Artificial Intelligence (AI).

These investments have focused on 5G technology and smart city development according to ICT Minister Amr Talaat.

During his speech at the 5G and Beyond Forum, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat shared that the Egyptian government has invested over EGP 150 billion since 2018 to modernise the nation's digital infrastructure, with a particular focus on 5G technology and smart city development. He highlighted the potential of 5G to facilitate the creation of smart cities that prioritize environmental sustainability, resource efficiency, and digital inclusion.

Resident associations have the potential to transform Nairobi into a modern and smart city. Jubilee Holdings Ltd Group CEO Julius Kipng’etich said associations play a critical role in the city’s development, urging them to leverage their talents for urban renewal.

“You have the capability to transform the metropolitan into a smart city full of modern comforts. Let us use the talents in our resident associations to restore the glory of the city,” Dr Kipng’etich said.

As a step forward to enhance the commute in Srinagar City, the Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL) is going to build ultra-modern bus stops with amenities to inform the passenger about smart city bus movement in the City.

The bus stops will be built with modern technology, and the City is set to witness the addition of 360 ultra-modern bus stops all over Srinagar.

The ‘Atal Smart City', built in Raiya under the Smart City Mission of the central govt, was inaugurated by chief minister Bhupendra Patel on Friday. The robust infrastructure, with all modern facilities, was created in TP scheme number 32 at a cost of Rs 550 crore.

Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) believes that around four lakh people will come to reside in this area.

The ‘Atal Smart City' is spread over 930 acres of land. The project started on Aug 23, 2019 and was completed on Nov 19, 2024.

Edinburgh's council is planning to scrap regular collections for glass recycling by using sensors to help them tell when the bins are full.

The initiative, which is part of the council's plan to become a 'smart city', also aims to reduce noise for residents who live near the communal bin areas.

More than 3,000 bins across the capital are to move to 'dynamic' collections which means the bins are only emptied when they are almost full.

The chief minister invited Huawei to invest in Punjab, pledging support for an office in Nawaz Sharif IT City.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz continued her fourth day of her official China visit with a pivotal stop at Huawei Technologies in Shanghai’s Longgang District on Friday, where she received a warm reception.

The chief minister announced a decision to collaborate with Huawei to transform Lahore into Pakistan’s first state-of-the-art smart city.

Saudi Arabia’s ambitious vision for the future faces another significant hurdle as The Line, the crown jewel of the NEOM project, announces the cessation of its planned desalination plant. This unexpected development casts a shadow over the feasibility of the futuristic city, raising doubts about the kingdom’s grand modernization plans.

East China's Shandong province is trying to boost digital empowerment, so as to make cities and counties in its region "smarter" and the residents' lives easier.

In the prefecture-level city of Heze, Juye county has a big ambition to boost itself: Becoming a sub-center hub in the Southern Shandong Economic Circle, by building a "smart city" in an effort to make it smarter and residents' lives better.

As air pollution worsens, green spaces diminish, and ageing infrastructure becomes a critical issue, experts assert that the green-digital transition is the key to protecting major cities like Hanoi from degradation.

According to the Vietnam urban and rural planning for this decade, the country’s urbanisation rate is expected to exceed 50 per cent by 2030. As a result, environmental challenges such as air pollution, the loss of green spaces, and infrastructure problems will become significant issues for large cities in Vietnam as they strive to become greener and smarter.

‘Projects handled by Smart City don’t have to be glamorous, focus should be on core infra’ Over eight years ago, as CCP commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues spearheaded efforts to give Panaji a makeover through the Smart City project. With the project in shambles and Goa’s capital city crumbling, a year ago Rodrigues was brought back as Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd’s managing director and CEO to put things in order. From lack of coordination to unfinished tasks and timelines over the past four and half years, Rodrigues speaks to Team TOI about the criticism he faced, the obstacles in implementing the projects and the crucial issues at hand. Edited excerpts from Townhall with TOI

Cities worldwide are leveraging technology to tackle urban challenges and enhance residents’ quality of life.

Innovations in transportation, such as real-time traffic management and autonomous vehicles, are improving mobility, while sustainable energy solutions like smart grids and renewable energy adoption reduce environmental impact.

Community engagement is also central, with digital platforms and open-data initiatives fostering collaboration and inclusivity. Each city’s unique approach offers insights into creating efficient, sustainable, and connected urban environments, paving the way for smarter, more resilient living.

The government has approved 12 new industrial smart city projects in August with a total project cost of Rs 28,602 crore (including land cost) for development of trunk infrastructure packages, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha said Friday.

As per the approved institutional and financial framework of Industrial Corridor Programme, State Govt provides land and Government of India through National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT) provides the equity for development of internal trunk infrastructure components.

China has issued a guideline on bolstering the construction of new-type urban infrastructure by the in-depth integration of a new generation of information technology and urban infrastructure construction.

According to a guideline jointly released by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council on Thursday, the country will construct and upgrade intelligent municipal infrastructure, as well as promote the coordinated development of smart city infrastructure and intelligent connected vehicles.

Leading Technologist Sakshi Mittal brings her diverse experience to projects in smart infrastructure and cybersecurity.

Although technology is widespread today, the innovations taking place in Uttar Pradesh are truly remarkable. In partnership with NEC Tech, the Government of India is developing an extensive smart city, with software engineer Sakshi Mittal playing a crucial role in this ambitious project. Her expertise is now influencing smart city initiatives globally as these innovations gain momentum faster than anticipated, thanks to leaders like Mittal.

Tamil Nadu has asked the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs to pick 15 of its cities for Smart City 2.0, which is likely to kick off by 2025 and under which 100 cities are chosen through a special purpose vehicle for civic, mobility and infrastructure development. On Monday, municipal administration minister K N Nehru and DMK parliamentary party leader Kanimozhi presented the demand to Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

At the inception of the Smart City programme in 2015, Tamil Nadu was allotted 12 cities including Chennai the second highest after Uttar Pradesh's 13 cities. The state spent about 98% of the allocated 18,000 crore under the scheme whose deadline has been extended till March 31, 2025.

And these are the neighbourhoods affected

Paying for parking is about to get a lot easier in Dubai.

Tollgate operator Salik has teamed up with Parkonic, the UAE’s largest private parking operator, to bring parking solutions to numerous parking sites across Dubai.

Parkonic is set to collaborate with Salik and use its eWallet system across 107 locations, modernising how UAE residents and visitors will pay for parking.

Local community engagement will be carried out, including e-commerce initiatives and ICT training at the National Information Dissemination Centre in Kota Kinabalu.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and Kota Kinabalu City Hall (Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu, also known as DBKK) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) securing a cooperation to implement a smart city programme in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

The new, locally led and people-first transport strategy aims to join up transport networks as well as empower local leaders and drive economic growth.

The UK Government has set a vision for a more joined up, locally led and people-first transport across England. It said it recognises that different passengers have different needs, and the quality of transport varies across the country and wants to support local areas to make all forms of transport work together better.

Government Partners with Private Sector to Drive Digital Transformation

The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines continues to lead the charge toward digital transformation, working closely with private sector partners like Digi-Cell to modernize infrastructure and services. Hon. Camillo Gonsalves, Minister of Finance, highlighted the critical role private companies play in advancing the nation’s digital agenda.

“Digicel has been an invaluable partner in our efforts to enhance connectivity and improve access across the islands,” said Minister Gonsalves. “From expanding fiber-optic networks to promoting digital adoption in the private sector, their contributions align perfectly with the government’s vision of a digitally empowered St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”

The Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies (HIDS) and the Australia-Vietnam Policy Institute (AVPI) on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding on digital transformation, energy transition, green economy, and super city governance using technology.

This is a milestone in the two institutes’ cooperation, a follow-up to a Ho Chi Minh City delegation’s visit to Australia in May this year.

New Noida will be built to mirror the best features of modern foreign cities, with eco-friendly buildings powered by solar energy and abundant green spaces.

The Uttar Pradesh government’s ambitious vision for a new, state-of-the-art city, New Noida, has officially been approved. Located across 84 villages in the Dadri and Bulandshahr regions, this futuristic city promises to be one of the most modern and technologically advanced urban hubs in the country, poised to outshine Noida, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad.

Salik Company (Salik), Dubai’s exclusive toll gate operator, announces it has partnered with Parkonic, the UAE’s largest private sector parking operator, known for its cutting-edge AI-powered free-flow parking systems.

Salik collaborates with Parkonic, the largest private parking operator in the UAE, and expands geographically for the first time beyond the Emirate of Dubai.

MDES and depa's project transforms Sikhio into a model smart city, enhancing safety, services, and urban management.

The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) and the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) have showcased the achievements of the SIKHIO SMART LIVING project, which has transformed Sikhio into a fully-fledged smart city. The initiative focuses on enhancing safety, public service delivery, and urban data management, aiming to improve the efficiency of services and city management for citizens, society, and local communities.

Data consumption in a city ranges from zero to 15GB per day depending on the location of the WiFi hotspot, population, service quality, service accessibility.

Thirty nine of the 100 cities selected under the Smart Cities Mission currently offer free WiFi services under the Smart City projects, minister of state for communications Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday in a written response.

As cities around the world evolve, the concept of a “smart city” has become increasingly popular. The idea centers around leveraging technology to improve urban living, making it more efficient, sustainable, and citizen-friendly. One vital step towards this vision is the adoption of solar-powered smart street lights. These innovative systems are transforming urban infrastructure, providing not only light but also contributing to a more sustainable and connected future.

• Technology experts have unveiled the data storage systems that could safeguard Nigerian cities
• Tech experts at Western Digital Media stated that the growing adoption of smart city technologies presents opportunities to enhance urban living
• They disclose that technologies have brought a new era of progress to help navigate today’s complex societies

In Nigeria, the growing adoption of smart city technologies presents transformative opportunities to enhance urban living, improve public safety, and drive economic growth.

Not looking for L1 concept for prasadam tenders, only A1 quality, says TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu

The new Chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), BR Naidu, has said that the “cleansing process” at the organisation has begun in the right earnest and that the aim is to employ artificial intelligence and technology to good effect. Naidu, supported by a newly constituted TTD Board, said that the aim is to make Tirumala a “smart city”.

Public sector digitalization challenges and solutions for transformation success

As the world rapidly digitalizes, government agencies are under pressure to boost productivity and deliver the seamless, user-friendly services that people now expect. In the UK, this effort is driven by the government’s 2022-25 Roadmap for Digital and Data.

The Autumn Budget underscores Government’s growing commitment to supporting the public sector in digitizing its service delivery and improving outcomes. It allocates £2 billion for technology investment in the NHS and provides additional support for digital transformation in other public services. The time to leverage technology to optimize operations, increase productivity and empower the public sector is now.

Your brain activity could reveal how well-adapted you feel in your city. This data is precious for city officials and urban planners.

The percentage of people living in urban environments has increased from 33% in 1960 to 57% in 2023. And the urban population is forecast to more than double its current size by 2050, at which point nearly 7 out of 10 people will live in cities.

The Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd (IPSCDL) has begun a tree-planting initiative along the roads, aiming to lower the temperature by up to 2 degrees C in the state capital.

Chief minister Pramod Sawant said that in alignment with sustainable development objectives, planting trees along roads remains the sole effective solution to maintain lower temperatures.

Development includes 847 net-zero ready homes on the city’s largest brownfield site, addressing the housing emergency and helping achieve climate action goals.

Plans for the largest regeneration project of its kind in Scotland for a new environmentally friendly coastal town in Edinburgh have been given the go-ahead.

The development includes 847 net-zero ready homes to be built in partnership with Cruden Homes on the Scottish capital’s largest brownfield site.

Flights over city centre will map the area in detail and help to create a digital twin which can then be used to inform highways surveys and accident response.

Milton Keynes City Council is partnering to trial the use of drones with the aim of transforming the way essential and emergency services are delivered in the future.

Flights over the centre of the UK city will map the area in detail and help to create a digital twin which can then be used to inform highways surveys and accident response.

Dubai Customs has recently launched a groundbreaking blockchain platform to solidify further its status as a global hub for trade and innovation.

Overview

On July 8 2024, Dubai Media Office announced that the blockchain solution was launched as part of a broader strategy to cement Dubai’s position as a leading smart city. This initiative is part of Dubai’s ambitious Smart City efforts to revolutionise various sectors through advanced technologies. Integrating blockchain technology into Dubai Customs’ operations marks a significant step towards enhancing international trade efficiency, transparency, and security. Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman of the Ports, Customs, and Free Zone Corporation, said, “This innovation reflects our vision to make Dubai a global hub of trade and logistics.”

The Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd (IPSCDL) is set to launch a ‘Tree App’ as part of its Citizen App Panaji. This innovative tool will track the growth of saplings planted across the city.

Each sapling will be documented on the app, including its botanical and Konkani names, precise geolocation, initial height, and fencing status. A photo of each sapling will also be uploaded.

Naver has partnered with Saudi Arabia’s National Housing Company to launch a digital twin venture, advancing smart city projects and urban planning.

South Korean Naver Corporation has partnered with Saudi Arabia’s National Housing Company to establish a joint venture focused on digital twin platform projects in the Middle East. Digital twin technology, which creates virtual replicas of real-world environments, will be central to the collaboration, enabling advanced urban planning, real-time monitoring, disaster prediction, and smart city development.

Blockchain brings transparency, trust, and decentralized solutions to smart city challenges, making urban spaces more efficient, connected, and sustainable.

The concept of smart cities is driven by the goal of using technology to create an interconnected, intelligent urban environment. It creates a synergy between technology and our physical environment, improving quality of life and encouraging sustainable growth.

Inspired by calligraphic lines and ribbons, Ennead Architects have designed a mixed-use development creating a cohesive and dynamic urban district creating strong visual, pedestrian, and infrastructure connections with the surrounding site, district, and the city.

Named Taopu Smart City, the project is part of a new district being planned around one of Shanghai’s largest future parks and has been awarded a 2024 International Architecture Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

Synopsis: Gujarat-headquartered LTTS has also built experience of smart government projects in the USA, India and the Middle East with its internet of things (IoT) offerings to enhance city operations, providing security solutions, citywide surveillance, and border security systems.

Mid-sized Indian IT services company L&T Technology Services (LTTS) on Monday announced a strategic partnership with the Colorado Smart Cities Alliance (CSCA) to build smart city development projects across the state of Colorado integrating innovation and technology.

Debate around the social sustainability of urban communities is heating up. Cities are being challenged to guarantee inclusion and equitable access to essential resources and services and adjust urban design to improve safety and security.

During a panel discussion at the recent Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, the concept of making cities a home that people can appreciate was explored. According to Valentina Taddeo, marketing and communication leader at Paradox Engineering, a city becomes a home when it succeeds in making each resident feel a sense of familiarity, security and belonging.

Kazakhstan is making significant efforts to implement the principles of sustainable development in the sphere of state and public services, Kazakhstan's First Vice Minister of Digital Development Kanysh Tuleushin said at a high-level roundtable on green digital actions, Trend reports.

“All countries are now making efforts to achieve certain goals related to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and striving for carbon neutrality. And, of course, Kazakhstan is not an exception. We are making significant efforts to implement the principles of sustainable development in government and public services, develop GovTech solutions, and share these technologies with other countries.

Indonesia’s ongoing digital transformation got a significant boost with a major partnership.

The Indonesia Investment Authority (INA) and investment firm Granite Asia have announced a strategic partnership to make targeted investments worth up to $1.2 billion.

Such investments will have a strong focus on domestic businesses or companies with deep connections to Indonesia, either via established operations or by introducing technologies that are intended to benefit the local market in the long term.

Smart cities are here to stay. What was considered a big trend a few years ago is now an established topic and a reality for many citizens.

Today we have world rankings, thematic indexes, certifying and specialised companies, cases and, above all, the interest of the public sector and society in advancing this agenda.

The aim of this article is to give a brief overview of the subject and to understand how far we have come and where we are going. A journey through the most impressive Smart Cities initiatives on the planet and their impact on society. The starting point is a simple question:

The Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) managed by the Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL) in Srinagar is developing a new online portal which will seek residents’ opinions related to spending of government funds.

The portal is related to municipal services and people can seek information on infrastructure development including new flyovers etc. The portal will be present in the mySrinagar app and Srinagar Smart City Limited website.

Players in the development of smart cities talk about what has been done so far and how artificial intelligence will play an even greater role in the future

Smart city development should be eco-friendly, transparent and improve people’s quality of life, experts told the “Thailand Smart City Expo 2025” seminar organised on Tuesday by the Nation Group’s PostToday and Springnews.

The developments discussed by the Chief Secretary at the meeting of the Housing & Urban Development Department are a promising step toward ensuring a sustainable and technologically advanced urban landscape for the cities of Srinagar and Jammu. The emphasis on self-sustainability for Srinagar Smart City Limited and Jammu Smart City Limited marks a forward-looking approach to urban governance that prioritises continuity and financial autonomy in public services, especially after significant investments have already been funnelled into various smart city projects. The Chief Secretary’s directive to create self-sustaining models for SSCL and JSCL highlights a broader strategy to secure long-term benefits for both cities. These Special Purpose Vehicles have made considerable progress, executing projects worth crores and generating revenue through various assets. However, the challenge remains to build a system where these SPVs are financially viable without continuous state support.

For the past five years, The Hague has been testing smart technologies in an urban environment. Some applications proved successful, others less so.

The municipality of The Hague has published a white paper outlining lessons learned from the Scheveningen Living Lab. Over the past five years, the city has tested smart technologies in an urban setting.

Today’s smart metering solutions have evolved with a wide range of connectivity options and choosing the right solution can unlock new levels of performance, scalability and cost-efficiency.

Smart metering has been a driving force in the IoT revolution for over 25 years. Utilities have long faced the challenge of collecting data from connected meters in remote, often hard-to-reach locations – underground, in pits or even submerged in water.

The guide will serve as a tool to accelerate sustainable, equitable and resilient urban planning policies and promote deliverable climate action around the globe.

C40 Cities and Community Jameel alongside UrbanShift have launched a climate action guide to help support cities in embedding climate action within their urban planning frameworks.

The Iligan City government has partnered with Mata Technologies Inc. to develop innovative, technology-driven systems aimed at enhancing local governance and public services.

Iligan Mayor Frederick Siao signed a memorandum of agreement with the tech firm on Monday for collaboration on various technology-based projects designed to improve different sectors in the city.

Srinagar’s e-bus service, launched as part of the Smart City initiative, has quickly become an essential mode of transport for many residents. While the launch of e-buses was seen as a progressive step for the city, the current fleet remains insufficient to cater to the growing commuters’ demand. With only 100 electric buses in operation, the shortage has led to overcrowding and longer waiting time for passengers, particularly during peak hours at various routes.

Although the surface transport ministry plans to add another 100 buses by January or February next year, the total fleet will still fall short of the city’s needs. To fully meet the demand, the service requires around 600 e-buses, SSCL official said.

In early November at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona—the Smart Cities equivalent of The Oscars—Shenzhen picked up the prestigious Smart City of 2024 award for its ‘Smarter City, Better Life’ initiative.

The initiative focused on transforming the Chinese city through digitalisation, advanced urban management, and sustainable development to tackle challenges like dense population, resource limitations, and environmental concerns. Shenzhen is a technology hothouse and a showcase for China’s biggest technology players, including Huawei.

Seongnam, located in Gyeonggi Province, is one of South Korea's leading cities in offering a range of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital services to its residents. According to Mayor Shin Sang-jin, this initiative is one of his key policies.

Shin introduced the city's digital features at this year's Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC) in Barcelona, Spain.

He was one of the six panelists in one of the SCEWC's headline sessions, "Shaping the Digital Future Ethically," moderated by global urban development nonprofit organization Leading Cities' board member Jennifer James, on the event's first day, Tuesday (local time). Some 150 industry insiders, including Helpful Places founder Jacqueline Lu and Fiware Foundation chief operating officer Clara Pezuela, attended the session.

Around the world, cities are becoming “smarter” by using advanced technologies to create more efficient, sustainable, and enjoyable communities. North Carolina is also embracing this trend by bringing smart technology to its urban areas. But what does a “smart city” really mean, and how will these technologies shape North Carolina’s future? Let’s look at how smart city projects are transforming the state.

What is a Smart City?

A smart city uses technology and data to improve life for the people who live there. It’s like giving the city a “brain” that connects and monitors things like traffic, energy, and waste. For example, smart traffic lights can adjust based on real-time conditions to help reduce traffic jams. Buildings might save energy through sensors that turn off lights in empty rooms, and waste systems can even track trash levels to schedule pick-ups only when needed.

Partnership with the digital arm of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority will combine InfraX’s infrastructure expertise with Tuya’s smart home technologies.

Tuya Smart, a global cloud platform service provider, has announced a strategic partnership with InfraX, a subsidiary of Digital Dewa, to help accelerate smart city development in the UAE at Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC) in Barcelona.

StreetCav is a plug-and-play driverless shuttle that has been developed by a consortium of private and public sector organisations and will roll out in December.

Milton Keynes is set to lead a self-driving bus trial using Ohmio Lift vehicles to transport residents across the city next month.

StreetCav is a plug-and-play driverless shuttle that has been developed by a consortium of private and public sector organisations, supported by funding from Zenzic’s Cam Supply Chain UK programme. Zenzic was established by government and industry to champion the UK Connected and Automated Mobility (Cam) ecosystem.

Malaysia's Smart City Framework, which aims to bring local cities up to global smart city standards, is generating impactful results, as evidenced by Kuala Lumpur's impressive leap of 16 spots in the latest Institute for Management Development (IMD) Smart City Index.

Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said Kuala Lumpur now ranks as the 73rd smartest city globally, a testament to Malaysia's growing urban innovation.

Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo engaged with representatives from the European Union (EU) to share initiatives concerning Malaysia’s journey to develop digital and smart cities that enhance people’s lives.

During the C-level Roundtable Breakfast at the Smart City World Expo Congress here today, the minister highlighted that the gathering strengthened the partnership between Malaysia and the EU on smart city development.

As urban populations continue to grow, cities around the world face increasing challenges in managing resources, infrastructure, and services. Smart city initiatives leverage advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), data analytics, and smart infrastructure to address these challenges and enhance urban living. In this article, we explore how these technologies are driving the development of smart cities, improving sustainability, efficiency, and quality of life for residents.

Ghana has officially entered the 5G era, with the government launching next-generation telecommunications infrastructure that promises to revolutionise digital connectivity across the nation, through Next Gen Infraco (NGIC), the 5G wholesale infrastructure provider.

The rollout by NGIC is expected to initially deploy 5G services in major urban centers including Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi, with a plan for a nationwide expansion targeting complete coverage by 2026.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Information and Communications and the Francophone University Agency (AUF) organised an international conference on November 4 discussing ways to branch out high-quality labour force for the southern economic hub’s development of smart urban areas.

At the event, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Vo Van Hoan highlighted the socio-economic achievements that the city has carved out over the recent past as well as its goal to transform itself into a modern and smart metropolis by 2030, saying the city is envisaged to become a dynamic hub of finance, commerce, culture, education, and science-technology with deep international integration.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung leads delegation to southern city

A group of Taiwan-based diplomats from 23 nations visited the Taiwan AI Labs in Kaohsiung’s Asia Bay 5G AIoT Innovation Park on Saturday (Nov. 2).

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) led the 38-member delegation to meet with Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) to understand the city’s efforts in smart city development, according to the Kaohsiung city government. Participating countries included several of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, Japan, Poland, and New Zealand.

Over the past few years, Hanoi has actively implemented digital transformation solutions with the aim of becoming a smart city. This is an ambitious project with three key objectives.

The first objective is to improve the quality of life by developing a smart infrastructure system. This is a crucial step to alleviate traffic congestion, a persistent issue in Hanoi for many years. By applying technological solutions such as traffic sensors and intelligent traffic management systems, the city can more efficiently manage vehicle flow, thereby reducing travel times and minimising the negative environmental impacts.

Here's how Indonesia could build a smart city model that embodies this potential 'rags to riches' journey:

Indonesia is at a turning point—a story of struggle poised to become one of triumph. Developing an ideal smart city requires striking a balance between the rapid economic growth seen in China and the democratic, participatory values of Western countries. This vision aligns with President Prabowo’s goal for Indonesia to become a high-income country by 2045. According to Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, this ambitious target will require economic growth of 6-8% annually. To reach this goal, Indonesia’s smart cities must be technologically advanced, inclusive, and democratic to uplift all its citizens.

The Smart City Kochi project, which was launched with the announcement of bringing global investments to Kerala, has been operating without a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for a year now. The CEO resigned around six months ago.

The Smart City IT township is located adjacent to the Kakkanad Infopark. The project commenced with the promise of creating 90,000 job opportunities and constructing buildings over an area of 8.8 million square feet. The Kerala government holds a 16 percent stake, while Dubai Holding owns 84 percent. The Chief Minister serves as the chairman of the director board.

The Beecham Research declared LoRaWAN the premier low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) technology for smart cities. Titled Leveraging LoRaWAN for Smart Cities: Cost-Effective, Scalable, Sustainable Connectivity, the report emphasises LoRaWAN’s vital role in modern urban environments, showcasing its ability to provide cost-effective and efficient connectivity for various smart applications.

The LoRa Alliance, a global consortium promoting the open LoRaWAN standard, will highlight these findings at the Smart Cities Expo World Congress(SCEWC). Member companies, including Browan Communications, iotech, Miromico, and Tata Communications, will demonstrate how LoRaWAN is revolutionising urban infrastructure. ZENNER will join Tata Communications and the Alliance on the panel titled “IoT Connectivity & Data Insights to Enhance Urban Life.”

Monday night October 28 the Culver City Council voted 3-to approve Advertising kiosks on city rights-of-way. Vice Mayor Dan O'Brien, Councilmen Albert Vera, Göran Eriksson on voted in favor of the plan. Councilman Freddy Puza vote against the proposal while Mayor Yasmine Imani McMorrin abstained.

IKE Smart City is the nationwide leader in smart city kiosks offering a wide variety of public benefits. Since launching in 2015, we have successfully deployed IKE networks in 20 cities, making IKE the most trusted partner for cities across the country when it comes to digital interactive kiosk technology. IKE, the "Interactive Kiosk Experience," is a seamless, best-in-class hardware and software communication system that connects cities with people through interactive, vivid touchscreens, an ever-expanding suite of applications, and a dynamically engaging interface.

Cities are complex social systems and, like magnets, they attract and repel. For some citizens the notion of a city conjures up images of bright lights, sophistication, excitement and opportunities. For others, a city is a dystopian, heartless and dangerous place where social ills prevail and threats to life and limb are pervasive. No matter the prevailing views towards cities, for millions of Africans, cities are what we call home. The challenge is, how to make cities more liveable; where they shelter us, nurture us, support us, and even become spaces where dreams are made.

African cities are expanding at a rapid rate. Cairo, Addis Ababa, Kigali and Cape Town are but a few of the cities on the continent that have shown exponential growth spatially, economically and demographically. These are primarily due to rural to urban population shifts, intercity-migration and high birth rates.

Traditional city planning methods require significant technical expertise and manual work. A Virginia Tech researcher is working to change that.

New research shows the potential of large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT and Google's Gemini, for assessing the human-made environment using street-view images.

By comparing LLM performance with traditional city planning deep learning methods, the study from the College of Natural Resources and Environment at Virginia Tech found that LLM-based performance is similar with established approaches. Unlike traditional methods that require technical expertise or manual work, the researchers found LLMs offer a more accessible tool for users, making it easier for policy and planning stakeholders to use these models in small to medium sized cities for managing smart urban infrastructure.

The minister extended an invitation to Nadella to visit Andhra Pradesh in the coming days and reminded that the Microsoft CEO’s father had served the state as an IAS officer in various positions

Andhra Pradesh minister for IT and electronics Nara Lokesh on Tuesday requested Microsoft chief executive officer Satya Nadella to extend the IT giant’s cooperation to the state government in digital governance and smart city programmes.

“The true potential of smart cities lies in how seamlessly technology integrates into the urban fabric. It creates efficient and profoundly human environments,” shares Changqing Lin, a smart city developer and chairman of Fujian Evergreen Property Management.

Lin’s words encapsulate a vision that effectively redefines the word “city.” As a leading figure in the industry of smart city development, Lin has pioneered the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in ways that are upgrading urban environments.

In an increasingly digital world – securing online transactions and interactions has become a top priority. Traditional methods like passwords and PINs are increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks. Enter biometric authentication, a revolutionary approach that leverages unique human traits such as fingerprints, facial structure, and voice patterns to verify identities. This technology is becoming the preferred method for safeguarding personal information, as it offers a higher level of security and convenience compared to conventional methods.

In fact, the digital landscape, including sectors like online gaming and banking, is already embracing this shift. The integration of secure authentication methods not only increases trust but also reduces the risk of fraudulent activities.