Page 101 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2019

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

REGULATORY NEWS

New ITU Case Study Shines Spotlight on a ‘Smart City’ Journey

A new ITU case study offers an evaluation of the Key Performance Indicators ITU-T Study Group 20 develops international stan-
for Smart Sustainable Cities developed by the United for Smart Sustainable dards for Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and
Cities Initiative (U4SSC), an initiative supported 16 United Nations bodies. applications. One of its top priorities is to leverage IoT
U4SSC develops practical tools to support cities’ application of digital technologies to address urban development challenges.
technologies to become smarter and more sustainable, with the aim of The U4SSC Key Performance Indicators are based on
achieving SDG 11: “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, the ITU international standard, ITU Y.4903/L.1603 “Key
resilient and sustainable”. Pully, a Swiss municipality home to some Performance Indicators for Smart Sustainable Cities to
18 000 residents, has reported its experience applying the U4SSC Key assess the achievement of Sustainable Development
Performance Indicators to help meet the objectives of its ‘smart city’ Goals”.
strategy. Human, friendly, efficient and practical – these are the values
at the core of Pully’s strategy. Practical innovation is Pully’s priority, as it
sees technology as a means to strengthen relationships between citizens
and help them lead simpler, happier lives. “I would like to commend Pully
for its will to share its experience with other cities around the world,” said
ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao. “This Pully case study follows similar
case studies of Dubai, Singapore and Moscow, offering a strong reminder
that no two cities are the same. Learning from diverse experiences will be
essential to the achievement of the smart city vision.” The case study –
“Pully under the microscope” – was developed in collaboration by the City
of Pully, Swisscom and ITU. The case study reports Pully’s self-evaluation
of its urban operations, contributing to an international effort to refine the
U4SSC Key Performance Indicators based on cities’ experiences with their
implementation. “This case study is the culmination of the huge task of
collecting a whole range of data from the city’s various areas of action,” says
the Mayor of Pully, Gil Reichen. “But I would like to emphasize in particular
the remarkable summarization and formatting of the report, which was
done in order to make it as accessible as possible to the greatest number
of people.” The collaboration encouraged by U4SSC has led more than 100
cities worldwide to evaluate their efficiency and sustainability using the
U4SSC Key Performance Indicators. The indicators enable city planners
to assess how information and communication technologies (ICTs) have
improved economic, environmental and social aspects of their cities,
according to the parameters set out by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development. The body of empirical knowledge being amassed by U4SSC
offers valuable support to the international standardization work of ITU-T
Study Group 20 (Internet of Things and Smart Cities and Communities).

Ofcom Consults on New Regulations for Short Range Wireless Devices

Ofcom UK published proposals for new requirements for using these devices in the used by Network Rail to monitor railway
regulations regarding the use of certain 874 to 876 and 915 to 921 MHz spectrum intersections and detect obstacles that
short range wireless devices. Short range bands. This implements a European may cause damage to moving trains.
devices include baby monitors, keyless Commission decision to harmonize these We are proposing to introduce a national
entry cards, alarms and some Wi-Fi bands for short range devices. We are also license for these systems, which will allow
systems, which all rely on spectrum. We consulting on revoking an existing license them to be used in more locations across
are consulting on making new regulations exemption for railway level-crossing the rail network.
regarding the frequencies and technical radar sensor systems. These systems are

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