UK Smart Cities and health of the Economy

Collaboration and putting citizens first are keys to building smart cities of the future, experts have said.

12:02 16 December 2018

Authorities responsible in building UK’s smart cities must get their heads together to ensure economy’s long-term health, Chris Johnson, SVP global enterprise at Nokia, has said.

 

Mr Johnson comments were made at the Nokia-sponsored 2018 Connecting Communities Forum in November. The forum, which was attended by almost 60 high-powered delegates, including business leaders and key players in the transport and infrastructure industries, determined that the keys to building UK’s smart cities are urgency and willingness to collaborate.

 

Mr Johnson said: “Britain’s cities have to be up there with the best in the world to attract business, which is good for the economy, and to appeal to talented people who want to come and work and have a pleasurable experience here.”

 

He added: “All around the globe, cities are waking up to the need for some kind of community platform – one that connects cars, public transport, people, CCTV, phones and so on,”

 

“This would afford organisations and communities access to all kinds of data, within the limits of security. The biggest thing that I’m beginning to see develop around the world at the moment is a consciousness about this.”