Urban, environmental, social, economic and technological trends are driving the need for Smart solutions. Today, well over half of the world’s population lives in cities. By 2050, this is expected to reach two-thirds. Recent advances in communications and digital technologies, data sharing, data analysis and connected scalable and open systems are providing new solutions to the pressures resulting from this growth. A well-thought out, integrated and expandable vision should focus on services and solution tailor-made for a specific city, depending on regional and local issues and preferences.
Worldwide, network operators are currently investing approximately 1.5 billion EUR per year in replacing and expanding their networks. However, the role of the operator can and should extend well beyond that of a connectivity provider. The operator has an essential part to play when it comes to facilitating the dense networks of connected sensors, actuators and other devices required for the success of Smart deployments. The network and the platforms are fundamental enablers for the vital application domains.
For operators, there is now a new customer who has a need and is willing to pay: the Cities. Smart services represent a shift of an even greater magnitude than the arrival of, for example, the arrival of mobile telephony, cloud, mobile computing and the uptake of data and video services. Instead of being ‘merely’ a provider of the pipes that transport data in a Smart City environment, the operator is being presented with an opportunity to move up expand through the value chain, add value, develop new business models, revenue streams and partnerships. In this document, we will explore each of these aspects.
This paper has been prepared by the Smart Cities Committee of FTTH Council MENA
Download the paper by login into the Member area or contact us at info@ftthcouncilmena.org
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