Smart City a new era of technology

Smart IT and Communications is the nerve center for Smart Cities

• India ranks 122 in the world for fixed broadband penetration, with only 1.1 per 100 inhabitants having access to fixed broadband. (Source: The Broadband Commission)
• India ranks 106 in the world for mobile broadband penetration, with only 4.9 per 100 inhabitants having access to mobile broadband (Source: The Broadband Commission)
• India has around 243 million internet users, with 70 percent accessing the Internet through mobile phones and tablets, and the rest through desktops and laptop computers
• India has around 933 telecom subscribers: 59 percent urban and 41 rural (Source: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India)
• Despite being Facebook’s second largest market worldwide, social media penetration in India remains at just 8 per cent or 106 million active users
• India’s average Internet speed is 1.5 Mbps, the lowest among Asia Pacific region. Only 4.9 per cent of Indians have access to speed higher than 4 Mbps. (Source: Akamai Technologies)

The governments and residents are starting to recognize the role of technology in meeting objectives and to make cities more efficient. IT and communications technology will be a key component of the investments allocated by the Governments to build smart cities.

City administrations are aware of issues like public safety, security, prevention of accidents, terrorism, etc. and to provide swift responses with the help of technologies to monitor, manage and detect critical situations.

To implement Smart IT and communications, policymakers must develop a strong wired and wireless broadband network, and ensure its availability throughout the city to all its residents.

Smart cities will use IT to improve the quality of life of its citizens by providing citizen services over communication networks.