The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has expressed his desire to see London become the world's leading 'smart city' during his address at London Technology week. The topic of 'smart cities' continues to dominate technology conferences and ICT exhibition - as government entities and city councils on a global basis examine ways in which they can implement technologies to make their cities 'smarter' for the benefit of its citizens and residents.

Metro Manila, one of the three metropolitan areas in the Philippines, has just completed an AI-powered video surveillance pilot and revealed that it has partnered with Iveda to work on a series of smart city projects.

Smart-City group Metro-Lab Network have announced the creation of an advisory council which is specifically designed at helping member cities implement its innovative technology projects. The new council aims to provide strategic advice to those who are the forefront of the digitization of cities on a global scale.

Microsoft co-founder and one of the world's richest men Bill Gates has entered the smart city space by announcing his role in the development of a sustainable, technologically advanced community in the Arizona desert.

The E-Home crowdsourcing initiative, which calls on citizens to make suggestions on how apartment living can  be managed by residents by means of digital technologies, is implementing three hundred and forty-two ideas across Moscow based on citizens’ recommendations received. 

After having put in place an advanced mobile network infrastructure prior to the FIFA World Cup 2018, Moscow is now aiming to launch a 5G pilot next year.

Central Hudson Gas & Electric and Orange & Rockland, New York-based utility providers, have announced the piloting of an electric vehicle (EV) program for their customers residing in the Hudson Valley.

Nokia announced that it has been selected by Finnish Shared Network Ltd (SYV) – a joint operation by DNA Oyj and Telia Finland Oyj –as a supplier of 5G radio network equipment including deployment and managed services.

At an exciting event held at The Pearl, Ooredoo showcased the true power and speed of Ooredoo 5G with smart city technology that will be available in the future.

Orange Egypt, the leading provider of integrated telecommunications services, brings Triple Play services and Fiber to the Home (FTTH) technology within 90 Avenue, a luxurious real estate project handled by Tabarak Development, the leading real estate developer in Egypt.

By: Michael Cade, Senior Global Technologist, Veeam

A director tasked with the responsibility of overseeing the construction of America's first 'smart city' has said that improving mobility and transportation will ultimately 'save lives'. Jordan Davis, Director of Smart Cities, Columbus Partnership, made the remark as Columbus, Ohio embarks on a revolutionary transformation that will make it the first 'smart city' in the US.

Electronics conglomerate Panasonic has claimed its 'smart city' platform will end traffic congestion in Colorado. Panasonic officially announced that it had entered into a collaboration agreement with Transit-Screen, which is a manufacturer of real-time displays.

PCCW Global, the international operating division of HKT, Hong Kong's premier telecommunications service provider, and Zhuhai Da Hengqin Technology Development Company (DHQ Tech) which is headquartered in Hengqin, China, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly turn Hengqin, one of China's Pilot Free Trade Zones, into a "Smart City", offering superior quality of life for its residents as well as an exciting and innovative business environment.

The Administration Committee of Hengqin New District and PCCW Global have signed a collaboration agreement to capture opportunities brought by the opening of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Greater Bay Area development, and to accelerate the cooperation among Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao in the fields of telecommunications and technological innovation.

The beautiful city of Makati in the Philippines has taken the first steps towards becoming a smart city, following an announcement which was made at the FTTH Council Asia-Pacific’s Philippines Workshop. The project has been described as a trend setter in terms of smart cities in the region – and it has been described a significant and progressive step in the development and regeneration of cities in the Philippines.

Planet Smart City, the global leader in smart affordable housing, is pleased to announce its partnership with Brazilian real-estate specialist InLoop and the subsequent development of more than 2,250 high-quality, low cost apartments in São Paulo, the largest city in the Americas by population.

The Philippines Government has officially announced its detailed plans to construct a new $14bn 'pollution-free' super city - that would be bigger than Manhattan in an effort to address the chronic air pollution and traffic problems in its capital city of Manila.

A research firm has claimed that 'smart city' technologies could save governments, enterprises and citizens globally over $5 trillion annually by 2022. The claims were made by US firm ABI Research following their publication of a whitepaper which examined the impact of cities deploying 'smart' technology in major cities across the world.

San Antonio has founded the “R&D League” in partnership with Southwest Research Institute, the United Services Automobile Association and the University of Texas to help residents via technology.