Mobile network operators have a pivotal role to play in delivering smart cities in SA.
So says Mark Warren, machine-to-machine (M2M) solutions manager for Southern Africa at Gemalto, who believes more smart city initiatives will come to life in SA as network connectivity improves and the number of connected devices grows.
"A smart city is not built overnight," Warren says. "It is the result of many projects being deployed so that smart technology is evident in our daily lives. It is a concept that changes the way we live and think. The goal is convenience, efficiency and prospect of a better quality of life while respecting the environment we live in to offer a better future to the generations to come."
According to Warren, the development in SA of reliable wide area networks like 3G, LTE and GSM; the adoption of short range communication technologies for local area networks; and home area networks like Bluetooth, WiFi, DECT and NFC, together with the interoperability of these technologies, will create the opportunity for new and existing players in the market to develop business models where value-added services can be offered to businesses and individuals in the country.
Research firm IDC says the concept of smart cities is a construct in which to frame local government transformation. Cities need to transform to develop sustainably, meet citizens' rising expectations, and attract investment, new businesses, and talent, says IDC.
It points out this is a complex undertaking, especially when coupled with constrained financial resources, fast-growing populations, and aging (or limited) infrastructure. As a result, smart city goals are driving investment in emerging technologies such as big data analytics, the Internet of things, cloud computing, and mobile solutions.
IBM believes urban dwellers today are demanding a more interconnected approach to city planning in which major amenities such as traffic management, power and water interact with each other.
Meanwhile, Warren notes the underlying principle of a smart city is to facilitate connections between consumers and users to public systems and government entities and between machines by delivering an ecosystem over which innovation and creativity can thrive.
By this rationale, he says, the base requirement for a smart city ecosystem is connectivity, without which, services cannot be delivered.
Contactless technology such as secure mobile payment, e-government services, M2M for m-health, smart grids, smart cars, and so on all contribute towards the creation of a smart city and build a more convenient world, he adds.
Warren believes securing smart city projects and the Internet of things is paramount to drive smart city adoption and mission critical to support its continued growth and success.
"As we are living in an increasingly connected society, securing the digital world has become a top priority for most businesses. To guarantee service continuity, it is essential that ICT systems that control a smart city be designed with cyber security, privacy and data protection in mind."
He urges that M2M security architecture must be considered at the beginning of solution development to ensure the privacy and integrity of the data it communicates.
"It is, therefore, important to invest in robust devices, powerful platforms and secure solutions. Secure elements offer a tamper-resistant platform capable of securely hosting IOT applications and their confidential and cryptographic data in accordance with industry rules and requirements."
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