Tel Aviv: Truly a smart city for a connected world
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12/24/2018
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GovXContentSection
In 2014, Tel Aviv won the World’s Smartest City award at the Smart City Expo World Congress held in Barcelona. Making this award even more significant, was that the “White City” (so-named after the white veneer of many of its buildings) dusted out 250 competing international cities, including the likes of London, New York, Dubai, and Amsterdam.
But what is it about Tel Aviv that sees it positioned as the hub of technology innovation in Israel?
Even though many ascribe the push towards digitalization as starting in earnest in 2012, the reality is that Israel has a rich history of investing in science and technology. For example, in 1998, Newsweek named Tel Aviv as one of the ten technologically, most influential cities in the world. By 2010, Israel had 140 scientists and technicians per 10 000 employees – one of the highest ratios in the world. And in 2012, an international study ranked Tel Aviv behind only Silicon Valley as the best place in the world to launch a high-tech start-up company.
DigiTel
One of the driving forces behind its digital transformation is the DigiTel Residents Club. This personalized interest, location-based communication network is centered on residents older than 13 years. People provide information on their likes and dislikes, with the city then customizing information based on that.
For example, there might be traffic congestion on the way to your work or if you enjoy music, you might get discounted tickets to a neighborhood concert. This is based on a multilayered map network of the city, working in conjunction with free Wi-Fi and other mobile app location-based services. Ultimately, this is geared to put the citizens at the heart of the city and create a truly connected, smart city.
To date, the DigiTel platform has more than 206 000 users (out of a city population of more than 420 000 but that includes children as well) and has spawned Digi-Dog (a service for dog owners) and Digi-Taf (serving more than 20 000 parents of children up to three years old). Additionally, the Tel Aviv NonStop City platform will launch in the coming months that will serve tourists, including targeted personalized information based on their preferences.
Understanding needs
Irrespective of the level of technological sophistication in Tel Aviv, none of this is possible without a clear view of what needs to be achieved. In this, many other global cities (including those in South Africa) can learn a few lessons.
Tel Aviv is focused on providing its residents with better access to services to make their lives easier. Once that fundamental need is delivered, then personalization, community development, and partnerships between citizens and government follow. It is as much about leveraging technology, as it is about delivering on what people need for a connected future.
So even though many might think that a smart city should be built on commercial success, it is also about creating an enabling environment for the local government to deliver on its mandate for service delivery. Thanks to its science and technology foundation, Tel Aviv is a city that is open to experimentation. This includes public and private partnerships, working with start-ups, and capitalizing on its strong academic centers.
A smart city is more than just the network points and free Wi-Fi. It is about a place where people feel at home using the technology at their disposal to meet their every need.
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