City of Tshwane committed to Smart City concept

During Microsoft’s bi-annual Tech Ed conference, held in Durban, South Africa, the City of Tshwane (CoT) re-enforced their commitment to drive internet connectivity in the city, to connect as many citizens as possible and to further their Smart City concept.

“The City of Tswane has already deployed in excess of 500km of fibre through the Smart City project, which has resulted in significant savings over the last three years by connecting buildings and infrastructure on City owned networks and by making use of own infrastructre as opposed to outsourcing voice and data communications,” the city said in a statement during their lunch session.

CoT will make use of all its resources to become a smart city that will encompass smart governance, economy, people, environment, mobility, living and relations.

The City said that the concepts of a Smart City is underpinned by smart infrastructure, smart industries, connectivity and access to knowledge, and e-learning and linkage with tertiary educational institutions.

“Partnering with industry leaders is a key stratgic choice for CoT. Recently the City was selected to receive an IBM Smarter Cities Challenge grant, based on its commitment to transform Tshwane through technology. In the further pursuance of service delivery excellence, the City now joins Microsoft on its Out of Office road shows and Microsoft Tech Ed 2013 conference in the city of eThekwini this week for thr second phase of the Tshwane 2055 Strategy Engagement process targeting stakeholders nationally,” said Nomasonto Ndlovu, City of Tshwane’s executive director of Strategic Development and Implementation.

The Out of Office roadshows will be launched in April and to mark this, Microsoft will be embarking on a national Roadshow across 26 towns throughout the country, targeting enterprise, public sector, SMMEs, consumer and educational facilities.

Charlie Fripp – Consumer Tech editor