There is no end to human demand for better and still better quality of life. We expect easier access to products, services and processes that offer quicker and faster result.

With most of these services available on smartphones, there is huge demand for such devices and applications so that people will have a lot of conveniences at fingertips.

From shopping to managing finances, keeping physically fit to watching television streaming, the smartphone has become an extension of human body.

At a time when the world is witnessing urbanisation at an astonishing rate, efforts are focussed on achieving more conveniences through mobile phones.

It is reckoned that by 2050, around 70 per cent of the world’s population will be in urban centres, as compared to 54 per cent now. This will result in traffic congestions, environmental pollutions, higher demand for energy, power and water supplies.

It has, therefore, become imperative that these cities will have to have more efficient infrastructures and better resources utilisation.

The solution is development of Smart Cities that offer an agile infrastructure, ensure efficient city management, better allocation of resources, economic development, sustainability and innovation.

Smart grids with smart meters and homes with smart appliances will help the government to better manage energy supplies by optimising the use of non-renewable sources of energy while enabling the conversion of waste to create renewable sources of energy.

Smart roads and transportation with integrated sensors and CCTV will run an intelligent traffic management system. It would reduce pollution and lead to sustainable use of resources.

Connected, integrated wearables and intelligent Internet-enabled devices will ensure on-time monitoring of data resulting in faster response, early and accurate diagnostics.

The emergence of data-driven communities populated by ‘digital citizens’ with information at their fingertips will be the main characteristic of Smart Cities.

The strategy must cover data security, accessibility, and privacy. There must be integration of security solutions such as data encryption and identity and access management, and security monitoring and analysis, to ensure the safety and integrity of city networks.