Dear Colleagues and Smart City Enthusiasts,

I am pleased to share with you the August 2025 edition of the Smart City Committee Newsletter, bringing together the latest innovations, projects, and success stories from across the globe.

This issue highlights how cities and organizations are accelerating their digital transformation journeys:

• Dubai is pioneering citizen engagement with its AI-powered Virtual Family.
• Milton Keynes and Ottawa are expanding autonomous mobility trials, showcasing the readiness of smart transport ecosystems.
• The Port of Tyne demonstrates how autonomous logistics can transform trade hubs.
• California is scaling vehicle-to-grid EV fleets to strengthen grid resilience.
• Dublin leverages a digital twin to drive its net-zero strategy.
• Fiji is tackling water losses with smart metering technology.

What unites these diverse stories is the silent power of fiber optics—the backbone that transforms isolated pilots into interoperable, city-wide ecosystems. Fiber is not merely infrastructure; it is the foundation of every major Smart City megatrend: from citizen-first services and autonomous mobility to resilient utilities and sustainable urban futures.

I invite you to explore this edition and reflect on how these insights can inspire our collective journey toward building inclusive, sustainable, and future-ready cities.

Warm regards,
Dr. Houssam Al Masri
Chairman, Smart City Opt & App Committee – Fiber Connect Council MENA