Page 5 - International Standards to Shape Smart Sustainable Cities: The Case of Moscow

Moscow is home to more than 12 million people. It is the largest
city on the European continent. Moscow’s architecture is a
remarkable blend of old and new, telling the story of its rich
history. The city also hosts a sprawling urban forest, with 40 per
cent of Moscow’s surface covered in greenery.
Moscow’s smart city journey began in 2011 and offers a strong
reminder that no two cities are the same. The unique priorities
of Moscow’s smart city strategy reflect the unique set of
challenges introduced by the size of Moscow and its population.

The ‘United for Smart Sustainable Cities (U4SSC) initiative’
advocates for public policy to ensure that information and
communication technologies (ICTs) – and ICT standards in
particular – play a definitive role in the transition to smart
sustainable cities.

U4SSC is coordinated by ITU and UNECE and supported by 14 other United Nations bodies. The
collaboration driven by U4SSC has led over 50 cities to adopt Key Performance Indicators for
Smart Sustainable Cities based on ITU standards.

ITU-T Study Group 20 leads the development of ITU standards for the Internet of Things and
smart cities. These standards assist in optimizing the application of ICTs within smart cities, in
addition supporting efficient data processing and management.
U4SSC promotes the adoption of international standards and the reporting of associated
experiences. This information exchange is enabled by the U4SSC Key Performance Indicators.
These indicators offer a common format to report the progress of smart city strategies. They
also enable cities to measure their progress against the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals.

We see prime examples in this Moscow case study as well as prior case studies of Dubai and
Singapore. These case studies share empirical knowledge of great value to other cities around
the world. This reporting also solicits feedback that helps cities to refine their smart city
strategies.
I would like to applaud Moscow for its contribution to international collaboration in support of
smart sustainable cities. This Moscow case study is certain to provide a valuable reference point
to other cities around the world, particularly in the CIS region.

Dr Chaesub Lee
Director, ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau

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