Vietnam’s Hanoi targets near‑universal e-IDs under new digital transformation plan
Aims to issue digital IDs to 95 percent of residents by year end
Vietnam’s capital city has approved an ambitious digital transformation plan involving AI.
Hanoi will require all municipal agencies to use artificial intelligence from October 1. The city also aims to issue electronic IDs to 95 percent of residents by this year’s end.
Trends in 2026 for smart cities – from technology led to insights driven
The global smart city landscape has moved decisively beyond the era of often isolated technology-led pilot projects. Instead, as we progress through 2026, the landscape is increasingly characterized by data-driven insights projects. These are underscored by the five structural shifts discussed in this article as we explore the trends in smart cities for 2026.
At a glance
- Orchestrated, federated and integrated data-driven ecosystems improve local economies and citizens’ lives
- Smart city performance depends on every part being connected, synchronized, and responsive
- Data spaces provide the trusted, secure, and sovereign framework for data exchange in smart city ecosystems
- Agentic AI and digital twins are revolutionizing urban planning
- Metaverse‑style environments (the Citiverse) are emerging in smart cities
- Smart ports are among key regional drivers to smart cities
Why digital identity is central to Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda – Olasiyan
As Nigeria accelerates efforts to become Africa’s leading digital economy, experts are warning that the country’s digital transformation agenda cannot succeed without one critical foundation: a secure and trusted digital identity system.
In an analysis by digital identity expert, Dr. Olalekan Olasiyan, digital identity was described as the “keystone” of Nigeria’s economic future, capable of driving financial inclusion, reducing fraud, improving public services and expanding opportunities for millions of underserved citizens.
Kazakh schoolgirls to present smart city project in Italy
Two students from the Karaganda Nazarbayev Intellectual School earned a ticket to an international hackathon in Italy to showcase a project aimed at transforming urban infrastructure. Their idea has already been recognized in Kazakhstan and is now stepping onto the global stage, Qazinform News Agency reports.
The project, developed by Yerkenaz Kazhiakhmetova and Medina Marat, focuses on analysis and planning of accessible urban environments.
APAC: The role of the blockchain in smart city management
Cities worldwide continue to expand, prompting governments and businesses to adopt technologies that improve efficiency, sustainability, and quality of life. Smart city initiatives already rely on the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and big data to manage urban systems. The blockchain strengthens these systems by introducing secure, transparent, and decentralized infrastructure.
Across the Asia-Pacific (APAC), rapid urbanization and strong public investment continue to accelerate smart city development. Governments and institutions increasingly explore blockchain as a foundational technology to support secure data exchange, efficient services, and digital trust.