At the heart of the challenges we face in this fast-changing world, smart cities are part of the digital transformation of urban areas: a gradual, but very real process. Lying somewhere between a nebulous, futurist concept and innovative local experiments, smart cities are aiming to reshape urban landscapes in line with new uses and respond to the modern demands of a highly connected population.
In France, 24 smart cities are beginning to emerge, each with its own unique project. Smart grids, public Wi-Fi, new-generation transport… These 2.0 cities are a crystallisation of various expectations among both citizens and local authorities. The market for smart cities, which has constantly evolved in recent years, is set to grow by 15.2% between now and 2020.
Nevertheless, beyond a race for new technologies, smart cities are moving away from their primary goal – optimising services to reinvest funds – in order to put people back at the core of the city. Improvement of services and the well-being of both residents and tourists by listening to data: through this human-centric approach, the urban landscape is going digital and making a crucial transition for the years to come.
In this e-book, we look at the profound transformation that cities have embarked on, and how Wi-Fi is a key challenge for their attractiveness.