Three steps for smart cities to unlock their full IoT potential

Three steps for smart cities to unlock their full IoT potential

The pursuit of sustainability roadmaps, the transformation of the urban landscape, and the improvement of the quality of life for citizens are simultaneous priorities for every major city. Emerging technologies are primed to play an influential role in facilitating success, and cities are eager to harness the power of one technology, in particular, moving forward - the Internet of Things (IoT).

There has been an exponential increase of smart city developments in the Middle East, aspiring to become global leaders in the space. In the UAE, several smart cities, including Masdar City and The Sustainable City, have already developed. And in Saudi Arabia, plans for a new smart city called "The Line“, which is a part of the $500bn megacity development called NEOM was recently unveiled as part of the 2030 Vision to embrace a new economic era.

However, smart city development is not without IoT-related challenges. At present, the supplier landscape is considerably fragmented, with related products bound by various standards. IoT solutions struggle to work together - hindering data exchange and opportunities to capitalise on potential benefits.

Interoperability is a must for seamless information exchange to reap enhanced IoT advantages. After all, the number of IoT-connected devices worldwide is projected