“Smart City” has become vernacular, and everyone is talking about it. Governments across the world are vying to develop “Smart Cities” in their countries. Asian country China has committed 8 billion US dollar for Smart city development and India has plans of developing 100 smart cities, in the pipeline.

The smart city market size is estimated to grow from USD 312.03 Billion in 2015 to USD 757.74 Billion by 2020 at an estimated CAGR of 19.4% from 2015 to 2020. A host of things will come to mind when we say smart city. However, the definition of a “Smart City” in the current times has evolved. It is no more just about infrastructure and community places or architecture.

Today a smart city is the one that marries the traditional infrastructure like buildings, transportation, utilities, etc., with a modern communication infrastructure.

Such a city fuels sustainable economic growth and enables a cohesive and connected environment. It allows people to communicate faster and effectively, thus a high quality of life, for its people.

Factors that make Telcos smart city enablers:
Telco owned wired and wireless infrastructure
Reach to remotest areas
Ability to connect various elements in a city and create an ecosystem that is cohesive and intelligent
Ability to promote higher mobility
Potential to translate IOT opportunities
Ability to be the harbinger of latest technologies like 5G and LiFi
The reach of Telco’s to even the remotest areas can be a great enabler, provide a base for better interaction of people, places, and other elements, thus become the lifeline of a City that is forward facing towards becoming a smart city.

Telco Driven Connectivity and Communication
The telecom sector plays a crucial role in establishing modern communication solutions and infrastructure to transform a city into a Smart City. As the telecom industry owns wired and wireless infrastructure, it also enjoys a key position in the value chain. Also, IOT (internet of things) is one of the most vital subset of the “Smart City concept” and Telcos are the best positioned to translate IOT opportunities.

From the position where they own the wired and wireless infrastructures, Telcos have the power to boost connectivity via Voice, SMS & Data, to create an ecosystem that is more cohesive and intelligent. They can add intelligence to a city’s infrastructure, buildings, energy, environment, etc. and drive the Internet of Everything wave.