The leading global ICT solution provider Huawei is hosting its second annual Innovation Day, with the theme "Exploration, Lights the Way Forward". Scheduled to take place on the first day of GITEX 2017 at Sheikh Maktoum Hall, DWTC, "Huawei ME Innovation Day" will explore the role of ICT innovations in driving digital transformation and building sustainable knowledge-based economies in the Middle East.

A number of China's leading technology firms have partnered on a pioneering new smart city initiative that has been created to ensure the smooth integration of emerging technologies designed to transform major cities.

Chinese telecommunications conglomerate Huawei has unveiled an ambitious project designed to empower the future development of smart cities at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona. Huawei has announced that it is aiming to build a 'nervous system' of smart cities by utilizing and infusing new information and communications technology such as Big Data, Internet of Things, Cloud Computing and Artificial Intelligence.

Rapid urbanization has made public safety a top priority of city governance. Governments worldwide recognize that urban safety plays a vital role in protecting people's lives and property, and is the cornerstone of economic growth in modern cities. To make cities smarter and safer, they are adopting innovative information and communications technologies (ICT) designed to prevent and react to evolving threats.

In line with the Qatari government's National Vision Strategy 2030, Global ICT leader Huawei shared its vision for future cities during the Arab Future Cities Summit Qatar that was held in Doha on April 11 - 12, 2017.

ICT.Moscow, a digital platform devoted to tech-based solutions, has granted open access to an artificial intelligence (AI) knowledge base of practices relevant for multiple industry verticals and business practices.

The government of India has voiced its plans to develop five new smart cities.

Having transformed Istanbul into a 'city brand', Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) has signed a cooperation agreement for a smart city consultancy project with Ericsson. Under the umbrella of the Istanbul Informatics and Smart City Technologies (ISBAK AŞ) company, the IMM and Ericsson will work together to achieve Istanbul's smart city vision and 2024 targets.

The UN’s International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has published the results of its ‘United for Smart Sustainable Cities’initiative (U4SSC) which highlights Moscow’s efforts in digitally transforming the city, according to the Moscow Department of IT.

Director of ITU's Telecommunications Standardization Bureau, Dr. Chaesub Lee, has confirmed that the ITU will seek to develop international standards for the internet of things and smart cities. Smart Cities World Forums magazine managed to secure an exclusive interview with Dr. Lee, who highlighted the progress the ITU is making towards defining 5G standards, and the benefits its KPI's are having for smart sustainable cities.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released a report on cities and the importance of achieving a net-zero world.

Japan’s Seven Bank has recently partnered with NEC to introduce ATMs that implement facial recognition into their systems, incorporating biometric authentication along with a QR code scanner. This new system would not only allow banks to identify its customers, but also allow people to open bank accounts on the spot.

Japan’s smart cities market is set to experience remarkable growth, with projections indicating a surge from USD 63.15 billion in 2024 to USD 216.99 billion by 2033, representing a compound annual growth (CAGR) rate of 14.7% during the 2025 to 2033 forecast period, according to research and consulting firm Astute Analytica.

Commuters in LA will now have increased flexibility in how they choose to pay for travel, thanks to the new TAPforce smart card system.

The Mayor of Panama has declared his pride that the capital of Panama is Latin America's first 'smart city'. The global movement towards smart cities has been described as a phenomenon and South America has been slower than other continents in terms of embracing such a transformation. Cities all over the world are evolving as leaders attempt to shape a city that ultimately improves the lives of its residents.

Rio de Janeiro and Bogotá have announced their plans to join the C40 Clean Air Cities Declaration in an effort to meet the World Health Organization’s air quality guidelines for cleaner air.

In an unprecedented initiative in Lebanon, the Municipality of Jounieh in collaboration with the Arab Forum for Smart Cities and under the patronage of the Lebanese Prime Minister- Designate Saad El Hariri, organized a workshop entitled "Digital and Smart Transformation in Arab Cities: Reality and Outlook".

The European Commission has deemed the Belgian city of Leuven as the continent’s capital of Innovation.

Fifteen of London’s iconic bridges are to be illuminated in a new “ground-breaking” project that will transform and invigorate the Thames riverfront. The Illuminated River Foundation and Signify have partnered together to provide connected LED lighting that will light up the historic landmarks via centrally managed software.More than 22,000 connected LED light points, capable of displaying over 16 million colours, will be used to create dynamic lighting effects in the city’s first holistic lighting strategy.

Commuters have warmly welcomed the announcement made by city authorities that it will provide 4G connectivity for passengers using the London Underground from 2019 onwards. This latest program represents the latest in a series of initiatives being spearheaded by city officials, who are aiming to make London one of the world's 'smartest cities'.