IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

Netcompany and Ahead Partnership’s challenge equipped young people with skills around the design of inclusive, sustainable and tech-enabled future cities.

International IT services provider Netcompany, in collaboration with social value specialist Ahead Partnership, has delivered its Smart Cities Challenge.

The three-month programme equipped more than 600 young people across the UK cities of London, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and the North East with new skills and understanding around the design of inclusive, sustainable and tech-enabled cities of the future.

The Federal Government has inaugurated a Joint Implementation Committee tasked with training and certifying one million Nigerians in digital literacy and emerging technology skills, as part of efforts to accelerate the country’s digital transformation.

The committee was inaugurated on Tuesday in Abuja by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who was represented by Ibrahim Kana, Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The government has placed digital transformation at the centre of its economic governance reform agenda, aiming to modernise public administration, improve service delivery and strengthen decision-making through data-driven systems, according to the Prime Minister’s Economic Governance Reforms (PM-EGR) document.

The reform framework identifies digitalisation as a critical enabler for improving efficiency, transparency and accountability across government institutions. It recognises that outdated manual processes, fragmented data systems and limited use of technology have constrained the effectiveness of public administration. To address these challenges, the government plans to accelerate the adoption of digital tools and integrated information systems across ministries and departments.

A delegation from Beiming Software, a China-based technology company, has explored collaboration opportunities in smart cities and digital transformation during a visit to Pakistan, taking a new step in China–Pakistan cooperation in emerging technologies.

During the visit, the company signed a strategic partnership agreement with Smart TechOne (Private) Limited, a subsidiary of Habib Rafiq Engineering (Pvt) Ltd (HRL Group).

According to a Gwadar Pro’s report on Tuesday, the Smart TechOne is working on Pakistan’s digital transformation through projects such as Capital Smart City, Lahore Smart City, and Silicon Village.

Nagaland joins four states to complete all Smart Cities Mission projects, with Kohima finishing 40 works worth INR 689 crore.

Nagaland is among four states and Union territories in the country—along with Chandigarh, Jharkhand, and Tripura—to have completed all projects sanctioned under the Smart Cities Mission (SCM), according to the latest update by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

As of December 1, 2025, all 40 projects undertaken in Kohima under the mission, with a total outlay of INR 689 crore, have been completed. Kohima was selected under the Smart Cities Mission at its inception on June 25, 2015.

As part of its efforts to humanise cities and improve urban services, the Ministry of Municipality (MoM) implemented the first phase of the Smart City Solutions Project, marking a significant step forward in Qatar’s journey towards smarter, more sustainable and people-centred urban development.

The initiative reflects the Ministry’s broader 2025 achievements, which focused on improving quality of life, protecting the environment and accelerating digital transformation across the country.

From sustainable transportation to renewable energy sources, discover how major European cities are becoming smart cities, putting city technology and innovation at the service of the environment and citizens.

European cities are undergoing a quiet but profound transformation: from simple places to live and work, they are becoming intelligent ecosystems where technology, data, and innovation enhance daily life.

The city government of Santa Rosa recognized the vital role of the youth in advancing its vision of becoming a smart and sustainable city during the launching of the Lion City Youth Summit on December 17.

The summit aims to inspire and empower the youth of Santa Rosa to recognize their potential, embrace their purpose, and lead with integrity and compassion.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Tuesday said that the BJP government is committed to earning the trust and confidence of people across all regions through sustained development work, with a special focus on clean drinking water and improved civic services under the Agartala Smart City initiative.

Addressing a foundation stone–laying ceremony for five key projects at the Netaji Adarsha Shiksha Mandir premises in Agartala, Saha said the state government represents the people of all parts of the state and is implementing various schemes to address their day-to-day problems.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai visited Puducherry on Saturday to inaugurate several civic infrastructure and urban development projects under the Smart City Mission.

As part of Puducherry's development, the Union Minister participated in the inauguration of the Mini Stadium in Anna Thidal, a project under the Smart City Mission.

He arrived at the event with several leaders, including the Puducherry CM, and cut the ribbon at the inauguration. They held a Pooja inside to start the ceremony.

A data scientist, Gbolahan Temilorun, has urged the Federal Government to deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) as part of a broad reform of Nigeria’s public service, saying the technology could significantly improve efficiency, transparency, and citizen engagement across government institutions.

Temilorun said Nigeria is at a critical juncture where rising public expectations, rapid population growth, and limited resources require smarter approaches to governance, adding that AI offers practical tools to address long-standing administrative bottlenecks.

Vietnam is shifting from pilot smart city projects to full-scale implementation, using technology to tackle pressing urban challenges like traffic, flooding, and energy efficiency.

On December 23, the 2025 Vietnam-Asia Smart City Summit opened in Hanoi, organised by the Vietnam Software & IT Services Association (VINASA) in collaboration with the Hanoi People’s Committee and under the patronage of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MST). The summit marked a turning point for smart city development in Vietnam, ushering in a phase of implementation, standardisation, and effectiveness, driven by Decree No. 269/2025/ND-CP and accelerated AI adoption.

Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative, launched in 2014 by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI), is a whole-of-nation effort to create a thriving digital future for all. The vision is to build better, meaningful and fulfilled lives for Singaporeans through seamless technology integration.

Over the years, digital technologies have become central to how people live, work and play, offering new opportunities while also presenting challenges to individual well-being and social harmony. In 2024, Smart Nation 2.0 was introduced, shifting the focus from building capabilities to using technology more effectively to transform Singapore’s future.

Naga City has launched its artificial intelligence (AI) Command Center, an initiative aimed at strengthening the city’s disaster response capabilities and enabling flood risk forecasting once it becomes fully operational.

In a Facebook post last Monday, Naga City Mayor Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo said the initiative marks a strategic shift from purely reactive crisis response to predictive, intelligence-assisted governance, positioning the city to prepare for AI-enabled systems by 2026.

Using the Data Drive platform, traffic patterns before and during the event were assessed to identify congestion points and improve traffic flow across the exhibition area

Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched a Transport Data Analysis Laboratory at its Enterprise Command and Control Centre (EC3), strengthening Dubai’s capabilities in data-driven transport planning, operational readiness, and emergency response.

Harshad Bhatia examines contrasting architectural desires—urban nostalgia for vernacular forms versus rural aspiration toward concrete modernity. He critiques sustainability rhetoric and Smart City initiatives as quantitative exercises divorced from qualitative human needs, advocating instead for indigenous wisdom and stakeholder engagement.

Human memory carries a strong impression of a vernacular tradition towards architecture. Take the case of most drawings titled ‘My House’ by children in an art class studying in an urban school. They portray a low-rise pitched roof structure with trees on its sides and a path leading to the front door. This is also what conventional imagination draws to mind for an adult who hears the term ‘vernacular architecture’. It’s both common and popular to fall into this representation for a first-time recollection to denote vernacular.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as the core engine of modern urban governance, shaping how cities plan, operate and deliver services, participants heard at the Vietnam–Asia Smart City Summit 2025, which took place in Hanoi on December 23.

The conference drew more than 600 policymakers, technology experts, businesses and domestic and international organisations. The event was jointly organised by the Vietnam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA), the Hanoi People’s Committee, the city’s Department of Science and Technology and relevant agencies.

The World Bank Board of Executive Directors has approved a US$50 million project to support Sri Lanka’s digital transformation.

The project will promote innovation and investment in Sri Lanka’s digital sector, modernise government services, and make them easier to access and more responsive to the needs of people and businesses, the World Bank Group said in a statement.

Madagascar has launched a number of tenders for the supply of different items and services within the framework of the Digital Governance and Identification Management System Project (PRODIGY) which the government has been implementing.

According to a listing from the Digital Governance Unit which is the government body overseeing the country’s digital transformation project, at least five tenders are currently open. One of them calls for supplies needed for biometric enrollment operations. The deadline for submission of bids for the tender is January 15, 2026. Details of the bidding requirements for all five tenders can be consulted here.

The fourth SSPP (Sustainable Smart City Partner Program) Forum convened in Tokyo’s Harajuku district this October at With Harajuku Hall, an open space fostering informal, energetic dialogue.

Launched in 2020, SSPP supports community-building centered on maximizing residents’ well-being, with communities as the main players. The program creates spaces where municipal governments, local businesses, educational institutions and residents cooperate across traditional boundaries.

I-Berhad is stepping up the implementation of Robotics-as-a-Service (RAAS) across its property portfolio with an investment of RM1 billion, positioning artificial intelligence (AI)-based automation as a key pillar in property management, hospitality, lifestyle and asset operations as early as next year.

I-Berhad chairman Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong said the initiative is expected to place the company and i-City at the forefront as pioneers of smart city development in Malaysia through comprehensive integration of intelligent technology using advanced task execution systems and equipment.

Urban systems rely on continuous data streams from heterogeneous sensors embedded in roads, vehicles, buildings, medical devices, and environmental monitoring stations. Transmitting all of this data to centralized cloud servers introduces delays that can undermine safety-critical applications such as traffic control, emergency response, and healthcare monitoring.

Cities worldwide are under mounting pressure to manage transportation, healthcare, energy, and environmental systems in real time as urban populations grow and infrastructure becomes increasingly interconnected. Traditional cloud-based computing models, once key to smart city development, are struggling to keep pace with the latency, bandwidth, privacy, and reliability demands of modern urban services. As a result, edge artificial intelligence is emerging as a critical architectural shift rather than a marginal optimization.

Prime Minister Edi Rama attended the “Smart City Albania” event this Friday, a project that for the installation of over 5,000 smart cameras in 20 cities across Albania—from Tirana to Saranda, from Shkodra to Gjirokastër—as well as 3,000 body cameras to be worn by State Police officers.

During his speech, Rama spoke about the installation of this security system through intelligent cameras, which he said will place Albania at the highest level of technology, introducing advanced standards for monitoring city streets, schools, and other public spaces.

As smart cities like Atlanta and Amsterdam digitize services and citizen engagement, brands that understand and integrate into these ecosystems can gain a powerful new channel for connecting with urban audiences.

The global race to become a “smart city” is accelerating, with urban areas deploying advanced digital technologies to improve efficiency, sustainability, and citizen experiences. Some rankings defy expectations: in the 2025 ProptechOS Smart City Index, Atlanta topped US cities for smart city readiness, outpacing San Francisco and Boston. Globally, smart city platform spending is projected to grow from $24.5 billion in 2025 to $39.5 billion by 2030, showing how cities are pouring investment into IoT, smart infrastructure, and digital citizen services.

The development of smart satellite cities is reshaping Hanoi's spatial structure. In Hoa Lac, where science, technology, and education converge, the Tien Xuan Smart City is envisioned as the urban core that connects research, production, and everyday life.

On December 17, based on the orientation and direction of the Hanoi People's Committee regarding the completion of the Tien Xuan urban area project towards a smart city model, integrated with and supporting the Hoa Lac High-Tech Park, SJ Group announced the implementation of Tien Xuan Smart City with a workshop themed "Creating a smart city vision".

The Government of Gibraltar has announced the rollout of two new “Smart City” initiatives, aimed at improving how the public accesses Government services in person and online.

The services, led by the IT&LD and Digital Services, were available as from Thursday, with further initiatives planned for phased delivery.

The first initiative is the eGov Membership Pass, a free digital service available via an app on iOS and Android, providing an NFC-enabled contactless alternative to the existing physical Gibraltar ID card when interacting with Government services.

The study shows that combining digital twins and big data can transform smart mobility from a purely technological upgrade into a collaborative urban ecosystem, where real-time data, simulation, and user feedback continuously improve transport efficiency, sustainability, and accessibility. Using Italy as a case, it highlights that effective governance, data sharing, and privacy safeguards are as critical as technology in delivering inclusive and resilient urban mobility systems.

Researchers from the Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli," the Università degli Studi di Teramo, and the Università di Bari examine how digital twin technology and big data together are reshaping urban mobility, arguing that this convergence marks a decisive shift in how cities plan, govern, and experience movement. Rather than treating smart mobility as a collection of isolated technologies, the study frames it as a living ecosystem in which public authorities, technology providers, transport operators, research institutions, and citizens continuously interact and co-create value. Grounded in the Italian urban context, the research highlights mobility as a strategic arena where digital transformation, sustainability goals, and governance challenges converge.

Repeated deadline extensions expose execution gaps, with several cities lagging and high-value projects still unfinished

Nearly a decade after its launch, India’s flagship Smart Cities Mission is running behind schedule, with repeated deadline extensions, the latest being end of December, highlighting persistent execution bottlenecks.

The Taldykorgan City Administration (akimat), Kazakh telecommunications company ASTEL, and French Internet of Things (IoT) solutions developer Actility have signed a memorandum of cooperation to implement a Smart City project in the town of Taldykorgan.

The initiative, based on LoRaWAN technology, will establish a comprehensive urban monitoring system aimed at improving city management and residents’ quality of life.

How Smart Planning And Citizen-Centric Governance Turned Pimpri Chinchwad Into A Livable Urban Model.

The twin cities of Pune, ‘Pimpri Chinchwad’, have achieved something remarkable. This industrial powerhouse has now been officially recognized by the Smart City Survey as one of India’s most livable cities. This is not just another ranking. It represents years of dedicated work, smart planning, and a vision that puts people first while maintaining strong economic growth.

Abu Dhabi is emerging as a global beacon of technological innovation and sustainable urban development, combining artificial intelligence (AI), electric mobility, and eco-friendly infrastructure to enhance residents’ quality of life. As the UAE capital accelerates its smart city transformation, the emirate has made impressive strides in digital urban planning and eco-friendly transport, significantly improving efficiency, sustainability, and liveability. With strategic investments in AI-powered platforms like LivAI and Binaa, Abu Dhabi is optimizing its urban landscape while ensuring that growth is sustainable and future-ready. This ambitious push has earned the city its fifth-place ranking in the IMD Smart City Index.

The Hanoi Department of Public Security on December 13 officially put the city’s smart traffic control centre into operation, enabling the electronic handling of administrative violations related to traffic order and road safety.

Equipped with 1,837 AI-powered cameras installed at 195 key intersections, the centre serves as the “brain” for real-time monitoring of traffic conditions and urban order. Through the system, police officers can observe traffic on major roads and junctions, promptly detect congestion, violations, accidents and incidents, and take timely response measures.

In recent years we have witnessed a progressive transformation of the urban face, driven by the adoption of 'smart city' logic in the agendas of many local administrations. According to the most recent report of the Smart City Observatory of the Politecnico di Milano, in 2024 the market for smart city solutions exceeded the fateful billion euro threshold, with a growth of +5% compared to the previous year. This result, important as it is, places Italy below the European average and finds comfort in two indicators among many: around 42% of the Belpaese municipalities have activated at least one 'smart' project in the last twelve months, while 91% declare their intention to undertake similar initiatives by the end of 2026.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has allocated RM310 million to develop connectivity infrastructure under the Melaka Smart City initiative.

Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the funding will support the state government’s goal of transforming Melaka into a digital heritage city in line with its status as a heritage state.

'Talk to Camera' feature enables real-time detection of hazards, crime, urban issues

The Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) has rolled out AI-based Smart City Management System designed to transform urban monitoring, improve emergency response, and strengthen public safety across the province.

According to officials, the system introduces an advanced AI feature titled: 'Talk to Camera', enabling officers to interact with the entire camera network through natural language commands. With this tool, the AI can instantly scan thousands of cameras to identify issues including open manholes, overflowing dumpsters, unusual smoke, or any suspicious activity.

In November 2025, Rome was named ‘Smart City of 2025’ in recognition of the planning and development around its 25-year Jubilee religious anniversary.

The idioms that mention a city are a measure of its fame and stature, as well as providing comment and advice on everyday life – take Rome, for example.

The city’s history and influence can be summed up by the recollection that: “Rome wasn’t built in a day”; “All roads lead to Rome; “When in Rome….”; “Fiddling while Rome burns”; and “Crossing the Rubicon”, the latter taken from Julius Caesar’s 49 BC act of leading his army across the Rubicon River (a small river in Italy) into Roman territory, which was forbidden and sparked a civil war, forever changing Rome. In other words, making an irrevocable decision or taking a fateful step that commits you to a course of action with no turning back. A point of no return.

IoT analytics is revolutionizing public sector operations, using raw sensor data to extract actionable insights.

Every minute, city buses, traffic lights, waste bins, air-quality monitors, and countless other public assets quietly publish millions of sensor readings.

Most of that raw data once vanished into the digital ether. Today, however, inexpensive connectivity and cloud-scale analytics are turning those forgotten bytes into concrete decisions that save money, improve safety, and raise service levels.

The draft project also analyzes the experiences of leading cities such as Singapore, Seoul, Dubai, and Zurich, as well as domestic localities like Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Hue.

The Hanoi City Police on December 8 organized a workshop to seek opinions on finalizing a draft project for the development of Hanoi as a smart city by 2030, with a vision toward 2045.

The Deputy National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers (NIHTE), Bola Mudasiru, says smart infrastructure is transforming urban development by harnessing technology to drive sustainability and efficiency.

Mudasiru made the remark during his presentation at the Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers International Conference recently.

Kuwait's Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) is pressing ahead with plans to expand construction of new cities and complete a full digital transformation in order to meet growing demand for housing and improve quality of life, Deputy Director General for Planning and Design at PAHW Naser Khraibut said Monday.

Speaking at the Gulf Digital Construction Forum 2025, organized by the Kuwait Society of Engineers' Union of Engineering Offices and Consulting Houses, he said in a speech that since the 1950s the government has been providing housing for citizens, and that Kuwaiti families become eligible to apply for a housing unit as soon as they marry.

The Smart City Mission (SCM) has seen 7,741 projects (96 per cent of total projects) amounting to Rs 1,55,386 crore being completed, and the remaining 323 projects amounting to Rs 9,425 crore are currently ongoing (as on December 1, 2025), the Parliament was informed on Monday.

The mission had undertaken 8,064 projects amounting to Rs 1,64,811 crore in 100 cities.

"Under the SCM, the Central government had a total outlay of Rs 48,000 crore for the 100 cities. As reported by states/UTs, as on 01.12.2025, the cities have been able to claim Central Financial Assistance of Rs 47,458 crore (99 per cent of the total Central share allocation)," Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu told the Rajya Sabha in a reply to a question.

Highlighting the many benefits of a smart city, Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon says advanced modelling technology could significantly strengthen disaster management for weather events like Hurricane Melissa while also improving efficiency and the overall flow of services and information.

A long-time advocate for introducing the system to Montego Bay, he said he’s ready for the western city to be transformed, noting that full implementation of a smart city could realistically take up to five years, contingent on securing the revenue needed for it to be sustainable.

The Bihar Police on Saturday has taken a significant step towards digital transformation with the launch of the Citizen Service Portal app, enabling residents to connect with police services from home and ensuring faster redressal of complaints.

Launching the app, Bihar Home Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary said the initiative will bridge the gap between police and the public and strengthen transparency.

The infrastructure required for 21st century cities demands prediction and adaptation - that's where sentient cities come in.

In 2015, Columbus, Ohio won the U.S. Department of Transportation's $40 million Smart City Challenge. By 2020, the promised transformation had not materialised. Traffic remained congested. Systems didn't integrate. Citizens saw incremental improvements, at best.

Columbus isn't an outlier. It's the norm.

Smart grids are the future of sustainability, especially in cities where carbon emissions are highest. Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) supports urban decarbonisation efforts by providing accurate data. Smart cities are making significant strides, including the use of advanced metering consultants, to further their goals of lowering emissions and making cities greener.

What is AMI?

Traditional energy meters were more archaic than AMI because they required manual operation, where a worker would check the machine themselves and record the data monthly. This wastes energy on transportation and vehicle pollution. AMI delivers data digitally to companies with daily or hourly updates, providing consumers and cities with accurate knowledge of energy usage without the risk of human error.

Trust in the Australian Public Service is increasing due to improved digital services, greater transparency and improved service quality, Australia’s public service commissioner has said.

In his message in the State of the Service Report 2024–25, Gordon de Brouwer set out that trust in the Australian Public Service (APS) had increased by 4 points to 62% in the past year – while trust in specific services increased to 73% in 2025, compared with 71% in 2024.

Authorities in Hanoi’s Cua Nam Ward have launched a pilot programme providing free public wifi, branded CuaNamFreeWifi, at tourist sites and public spaces across the ward.

The initiative aims to help visitors access information, maps and cultural or culinary destinations more easily, while supporting the capital’s transition toward a modern, smart city.

The 2025 Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) Global Summit opened on December 3 in Ho Chi Minh City, bringing together more than 600 urban leaders, technology experts and international investors.

The 2025 Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) Global Summit opened on December 3 in Ho Chi Minh City, bringing together more than 600 urban leaders, technology experts and international investors.

The key to success is implementing a partnership approach that considers how to put together a set of solutions that meet a city’s unique needs.

When the notion of the smart city arises, I often think of a former colleague who developed an early smart city event in 2002, highlighting the efforts of the Grant County, Washington, Public Utility District's early open-access fiber network.

Later, large companies like Cisco and IBM grabbed headlines by making large investments to develop technologies to support smart sensors, integrated public transport, digital healthcare systems, and energy-efficient solutions.

Officials said the list of major roads, intersections, bridges, and high-risk areas is nearly complete, with around 80% finalised

Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) has launched an initiative to transform the city into a safe and technology-driven urban area by installing smart streetlights and an artificial intelligence (AI)-based surveillance system.

The project, titled "Implementation of Smart Lighting (Solar/Non-Solar) with AI-Based CCTV Surveillance System in Chattogram City Area for Ensuring a Smart and Safe City", aims to modernise city management and enhance public safety.

Ellinikon aims to be Europe’s first fully planned and built-from-scratch smart city, incorporating innovative digital infrastructure.

LAMDA Development, through its subsidiary HELLINIKON S.A., has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with COSMOTE TELEKOM to strengthen the technological ecosystem of “The Ellinikon project.” The partnership will support the development of the project as Europe’s first fully planned and built-from-scratch smart city, incorporating innovative digital infrastructure and advanced connectivity services.

The Cabinet Secretariat on Sunday instructed ministries, non-ministerial bodies and governorates to continue conducting official correspondence through the government e-mail system, reinforcing the government’s push toward a full digital transition, the Secretariat said in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA).

The Secretariat’s Administrative and Financial Department directed institutions to replace paper-based procedures with digital communication in line with the government’s broader digitization agenda.

The Qatari capital has climbed into the top tier of global smart cities in the 2025 edition of the IMD Smart City Index 2025, compiled annually by IMD’s World Competitiveness Centre, with Doha ranking 33rd among 146 cities worldwide.

The index, which rated Doha the third-highest ranked city in the region, assesses cities not just on their infrastructure or digital services, but also on how well those elements translate into everyday life: residents’ perceptions about health and safety, mobility, activities, opportunities, and governance all feed into the score.

The newly launched Amra City project is emerging as a landmark opportunity to apply cutting-edge urban planning technologies, integrating smart networks, digital infrastructure, e-governance, youth empowerment, and sustainable urban design, according to experts in engineering technology, planning, and infrastructure.

Specialists told Petra that this integrated vision positions the city to become a Jordanian and regional model for smart, sustainable urban development one that could serve as a reference across the Middle East.

A plan to seal a digital cooperation framework between Azerbaijan and Senegal is in the offing as both countries look forward to sharing insights on how to better implement their digital transformation strategies.

During the recent World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-25) in the Azerbaijani capital Baku, Senegal’s Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Alioune Sall, had discussions with the head of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IAAD) of Azerbaijan, Farid Osmanov.

Ismail Hamoumi is a leading Smart City and infrastructure strategy expert with extensive experience shaping sustainable urban transformation across Africa and the Middle East. A passionate advocate for technology-enabled governance, he has worked with public agencies, development banks, and private partners to align digital innovation with tangible infrastructure delivery. From pioneering city data platforms and mobility strategies to advancing PPP frameworks for smart utilities, Ismail’s work bridges the gap between policy, engineering, and citizen engagement. His mission: to help emerging cities become more connected, inclusive, and resilient.

In this exclusive conversation, he shares his insights on scaling smart city initiatives, financing innovation, and building institutional capacity to deliver the next generation of urban infrastructure across the region.

AWS Public Sector Day 2025 highlighted the country’s digital readiness and commitment to secure, citizen-centric innovation.

Bangkok set the stage for Thailand’s digital future on November 6 as Public Sector Day 2025 brought together government officials, technology innovators, and academics to explore how cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) can strengthen national resilience and redefine citizen services.

The Department of Science and Technology (DoST) has handed over specialized science, technology, and innovation (STI) roadmaps to the city governments of Pasig and Caloocan to help them develop smart and sustainable communities.

The turnover ceremony took place Monday during the opening of the DoST-National Capital Region’s (DoST-NCR) 2025 Regional Science, Innovation and Technology Week, held at the Technological Institute of the Philippines in Quezon City.

Suwon City in Gyeonggi Province has obtained Smart City Certification in the '2025 Smart City Certification Contest' organized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Suwon City has been recognized for its capabilities and excellence as a smart city by achieving Smart City Certification for the third consecutive time, following the pilot certification in 2021 and again in 2023.

The new projects include work on pedestrian spaces and community development. At the same time, the city plans to deploy an upgraded, "first-of-its-kind" emergency command center at the famous Thanksgiving Day parade.

As New York City awaits the inauguration of a new mayor — Zohran Mamdani is scheduled take the oath of office on Jan. 1 — the city’s public-sector professionals are seeking fresh technological edges.

Qatar’s commitment to smart and sustainable urban development is deeply embedded within its national aspiration expressed through the Third National Development Strategy and Digital Agenda 2030.

The journey is one of leveraging technology, innovation, and dynamic public-private ecosystem to transform the nation and enhance the quality of life for all, optimise city management and foster robust economic diversification, building sustainable life for future generations, Assistant Undersecretary for Digital Industry Affairs at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), H E Reem Mohammed Al Mansoori said during the launch of fourth edition of Smart City Expo Doha 2025, featured at MWC25 Doha, yesterday.

Both parties agreed to deepen bilateral collaboration and increase the exchange of expertise.

Ms. Amal Al-Falah Al-Sagroshny, Morocco’s Minister-Designate for Digital Transformation and Administration Reform, hosted David Almerol, Secretary of State for Electronic Management of the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology of the Philippines, along with an official delegation, at the ministry’s headquarters in Rabat on November 19, 2025. The visit was organized in coordination with Morocco’s National Commission for the Protection of Personal Data and forms part of ongoing bilateral cooperation in e-governance and digital transformation.

Sultan Haitham City has achieved full completion of land preparation and levelling works, while progress continues on main roads, underpasses, utility networks and bridges.

Oman is accelerating its transition towards smart, sustainable urban development through a series of major national projects aligned with Oman Vision 2040. Led by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, strategic initiatives such as Sultan Haitham City, Al Jabal Al Aali City and A'Thuraya City are reshaping the country’s future urban landscape.

LG Electronics Inc. will provide advanced heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) solutions and artificial intelligence (AI) home solutions to the smart city under development in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as per a report by Pulse, the English service of Maeil Business News Korea.

The company said Sunday that it signed a strategic partnership for smart city development on Wednesday with Expo City Dubai Authority, as per the Pulse report.

Turning technology potential into real public sector progress

Across the UK and beyond, public sector organizations have made major strides toward digital transformation.

From online tax portals to digital health records, citizens are expecting the same seamless, data-driven experience they receive from private sector services, and these expectations are increasingly being met.

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP) continues to support the government’s broader drive toward comprehensive digital transformation, while improving Oman’s investment environment and facilitating business start-up procedures. These efforts aim to encourage investors to establish diverse projects that contribute to the national economy and stimulate economic activity.

The Ministry affirmed that the Sultanate of Oman has, in recent years, charted an ambitious course toward a knowledge-based economy and a digital society through the development of national strategies for e-government and digital transformation. These strategies address all areas required to build a digital society—ranging from human-capacity development and infrastructure readiness to the implementation of e-government tools and the establishment of trust, legal frameworks and regulatory systems.

What makes cities and municipalities ready to become smart cities?

This question defined the atmosphere at the Manila Hotel on Nov. 14, 2025, as The Manila Times honored the country’s top local government units (LGUs). While the event celebrated model cities and municipalities, the underlying current of the discussion was the urgent transition from standard good governance to data-driven “Smart City” status.

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, receiving top honors yet again, set the tone for this national conversation.

The state capital, Lucknow, is being transformed into India’s first fully AI-enabled city. Unlike conventional “smart city” models, Lucknow’s infrastructure is being strengthened with cutting-edge technology to function as the national hub for AI-driven governance.

Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh is emerging as a global benchmark in Artificial Intelligence (AI) across multiple sectors. CM Yogi’s mission is to harness technology to propel the state to the forefront of development and innovation. While many governments worldwide are still experimenting with AI to enhance public services, Uttar Pradesh has implemented it on a wide scale. Technology in the state has moved from a mere slogan to a guiding principle of governance, shaping a prosperous and futuristic Uttar Pradesh.

Cities are deploying AI agents, digital twins and computer vision to turn fragmented urban infrastructure into intelligent, responsive spaces. Cities worldwide face unprecedented challenges as urban populations surge and infrastructure strains to keep pace.

Operational challenges like traffic congestion and coordinating emergency services are compounded by fragmented data pipelines, siloed local government processes and disparate systems. Technical barriers prevent cities from accessing the comprehensive, real-time insights needed for effective decision-making and city management.

Digital transformation is becoming an important pillar in the development strategies of all nations. In Viet Nam, the goal of building a digital government has been clearly defined with people at the centre, data as the foundation, and technology as a tool.

Online public services are considered the test of the effectiveness of this process. Lessons from pioneering countries show that for technology to truly serve the people, the decisive factors lie in governance mindset, the digital capacity of officials, and the engagement of the community.

Rourkela Smart City Ltd's 31st board meeting, chaired by Anu Garg, reviewed ongoing projects and future plans. Key discussions included expediting the Integrated Command and Control Centre and satisfaction with the 'rOURkela One' project's progress, especially the city command centre and Tribal Museum buildings. The board also focused on the tribal museum's soft components and other development initiatives.

The 31st board meeting of Rourkela Smart City Ltd (RSCL) convened on Monday, bringing together key stakeholders to assess the progress of ongoing projects and plan for future developments. The meeting, held in Rourkela, was chaired by development commissioner-cum-additional chief secretary Anu Garg.

Inspiring large-scale initiatives

The development of Africa and, to a certain extent, its major cities requires substantial investment in a number of areas. The notion of the "intelligent city" is currently very much in vogue. While the main objective is technological and infrastructural development, the educational aspect also needs to be highlighted.

What role does education play in these current initiatives in Africa?

As urbanization accelerates worldwide, cities face mounting challenges in managing dense populations, expanding infrastructure, and maintaining sustainability. Traditional urban planning models often struggle to address these complexities effectively. To meet the growing demands for efficiency, sustainability, and livability, cities are turning toward digital transformation — and the Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as a key enabler.

Among IoT connectivity technologies, LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) has proven particularly effective in creating smart city solutions. Its combination of long-range communication, low power consumption, and flexible deployment makes it a cornerstone for scalable, data-driven urban systems.

Ghana’s major cities are expanding rapidly, creating demand for intelligent infrastructure capable of supporting modern urban living. Smart transportation systems, advanced healthcare networks, digital government services, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence rely heavily on high-capacity communication networks. Fiber optics and photonics technologies have the potential to serve as the backbone of these smart city ecosystems, ensuring stability, speed, and security. Deploying these technologies can bring Ghana’s vision of smart urban centers into reality.

Kenya is positioning itself as a global leader in training civil servants in artificial intelligence and digital governance through a new Massive Open Online Course developed with UNESCO, the University of Oxford, and the Kenya School of Government.

In a statement, Eng. John Kipchumba Tanui, principal secretary for the State Department of ICT and Digital Economy, said the course will equip public servants to guide ethical digital transformation and deliver citizen-centered services. “Kenya is proud to pioneer this Massive Open Online Course on AI and Digital Transformation in Government,” Tanui said. “Delivered through the Kenya School of Government, the course will equip civil servants with the essential competencies to lead digital transformation and innovation ethically.”