Comm. Smart Cities and IoT supplement Smart Cities and IoT | Seite 22

Smart views

Telecom operators could
become the town squares of
smart cities
There are deep misconceptions about smart cities that we find within the industry. One of
the most common is the idea that a smart city is a ‘finalised product’ rather than the process
of harmonising infrastructure with technology. While it is possible to build a smart city ‘from
scratch’, it is also possible (and necessary) to upgrade existing cities to become smarter. This
perspective underscores two critical points about smart cities – their primary purpose is to
improve the lives of citizens, and they are an inevitable part of our future

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onsequently, it is better to think of
smart cities as a spectrum, with all
cities falling somewhere between
‘complete disconnection’ and ‘total
integration’. A.T. Kearney has identified the
five key areas that all cities must develop
in order to achieve the ultimate goal of
moving towards total integration:
Smart Energy: through the use of
smart grids, energy storage capabilities,
and smart meters, smart cities can ensure
citizens have the power supply needed
for daily activities, whilst reducing energy
consumption;
Smart Environment: a focus
on renewable energy and water waste
management must form a key pillar for all
smart cities;
Smart Buildings: it would be
impossible to talk about smart energy and
environment without making buildings
more intelligent. Integrated buildings
achieve cost efficiencies through better
usage of water and energy. They also have
reduced maintenance costs, affecting the
overall expenditure of developers, owners,
and tenants
Smart Transportation: a robust
transportation network is the lifeblood of
all major cities. Linking all transportation
methods (e.g. railways, metros, trams, and

Laurent Viviez is a partner with A.T. Kearney in the
Communications, Media & Technology Practice for
Middle East and Africa

Nicolas Sultan is a principal with A.T. Kearney in the
Communications, Media & Technology Practice for
Middle East and Africa

buses) through technology will improve
transportation speed, reliability, convenience and safety for citizens;
Smart ICT: the ICT sector would serve
as the life force that drives and connects
the components of a smart city.
It would be wrong to think of these areas
as silos, operating independently of one
another. Everything must come together
seamlessly to create a positive and sustainable impact on the city.
Underscoring this vision is the billion-dol-

lar question on everyone’s mind – what role
will telecom operators (telcos) play in the
development and maintenance of smart
cities? The range of possibilities availa