Page 40 - Shaping smarter and more sustainable cities - Striving for sustainable development goals

ICT infrastructure is a very wide topic by itself. A detailed description of ICT infrastructure is not part
of the scope of this Technical Report. At a general level, it is infrastructure that enables computing,
communications and associated analysis. ICT infrastructure includes both hardware and software
components (e.g. network infrastructure, cloud computing, business and social applications
software and access devices).

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While the Technical Report produced by ITU‐T FG‐SSC Working Group 2 focuses on this topic, this
section provides a summary of these key components in order to contextualise the notion of SSC
and its attributes.
The following topics are highly relevant to the design and functioning of SSCs:

 ICTs specific to smart sustainable cities
 Internet of things
 Ubiquitous sensor networks

 Data security
 Mobile broadband

ICTs specific to smart sustainable cities
In addition to traditional ICT infrastructures such as network infrastructure, software applications,
cloud computing/data platforms and access devices, Table 5 is a sample list (not exhaustive) of
communications‐related technologies which have relevance to SSCs.

The Internet of things

An important trend that has gained prominence in the last few years is the 'Internet of things' (IoT).
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Ashton defined the term in 1998 and re‐stated in 2009 that: “Today computers – and, therefore,
the Internet – are almost wholly dependent on human beings for information”.

What this actually means is that all objects and equipment in the world will be connected via
Internet in one way or another. Internet will be in everything including the jewellery and clothing.
Today's information technology is so dependent on data originated by people that our computers
know so much about things.

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According to recent report by Gartner , the Internet of things (things, people, places and systems)
will create new markets and a new economy adding USD 1.9 trillion worth of economic value by
2020. It is further estimated that in the next two years, the combined IT and telecom market will hit
almost USD 4 trillion.

Another example of how pervasive the Internet of things could be found from a study by MIT.
Researchers from MIT followed close to 3000 items of trash using smart tags and found that the
some of this trash travels from its source location in the United States for more than 3 months
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before they reach a waste disposal unit.

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52 http://www.itu.int/en/ITU‐T/focusgroups/ssc/Pages/default.aspx
53 http://www.rfidjournal.com/articles/view?4986
54 http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/2621015
55 http://senseable.mit.edu/trashtrack/index.php

30 ITU‐T's Technical Reports and Specifications