数字基础：通往以人为本的智慧城市之路

GSMA Digital Utilities The GSMA is a global organisation unifying the mobileecosystem to discover, develop and deliver innovationfoundational to positive business environments and societalchange. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivityso that people, industry and society thrive. Representingmobile operators and organisations across the mobileecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA delivers for itsmembers across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good,Industry Services and Solutions, and Outreach. This activityincludes advancing policy, tackling today’s biggest societalchallenges, underpinning the technology and interoperabilitythat make mobile work, and providing the world’s largestplatform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC andM360 series of events. Utility services such as energy, water, sanitation, wastemanagement and transport are essential to life. The DigitalUtilities programme enables access to affordable, reliable,safe and sustainable urban utility services for low-incomepopulations through digital solutions and innovativepartnerships. In doing so, we also seek to support cities inlow- and middle-income countries in their transition to a lowcarbon, climate-resilient future. For more information, please visit:www.gsma.com/digitalutilities We invite you to find out more atgsma.com ||y GSMA Intelligence is the definitive source of global mobileoperator data, analysis and forecasts, and publisher ofauthoritative industry reports and research. Our data coversevery operator group, network and MVNO in every countryworldwide – from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. It is the mostaccurate and complete set of industry metrics available,comprising tens of millions of individual data points,updated daily. This material has been funded by UK InternationalDevelopment from the UK Government and is supported bythe GSMA and its members. The views expressed do notnecessarily reflect the UK Government’s official policies. www.gsmaintelligence.cominfo@gsmaintelligence.com@GSMAi Published: June 2025 Foreword Cities across the world are experiencing anera of profound transformation. Nowhere isthis more evident than in the rapidly urbanizingregions of Africa and Asia, which together willaccount for 90% of global urban growth by2050. This unprecedented expansion brings bothchallenges and opportunities. On one hand, citiesface mounting pressures from climate change,infrastructure deficits, and the need for inclusiveservice delivery. On the other, digital technologies—when thoughtfully deployed—offer a pathway toresilient, people-centred urban futures. The business opportunity is substantial. Theaddressable market for IoT-enabled smart citysolutions in the focus regions is forecast to reach$38.3 billion by 2030, with India alone representing acumulative $11.5 billion opportunity. Importantly, thevalue is shifting from basic connectivity to platformsand services, underscoring the need for operatorsto move up the value chain. Despite significantprogress, challenges remain. These include thehigh initial costs of advanced IoT modules, theneed for widespread 5G SA coverage, and theimperative for robust data governance and privacysafeguards. Success will require coordinated policyframeworks, sustained investment in digital skillsand infrastructure, and a commitment to inclusive,climate-resilient urban development. At the heart of every smart city lies a set of digitalfoundations: robust connectivity, digital identity,interoperable payments, and open data platforms.These elements are not only technologicalprerequisites; they are enablers of inclusion,efficiency, and innovation. India’s journey withAadhaar (biometric ID), the Unified PaymentsInterface (UPI), and the Unified Energy Interface(UEI) exemplifies how digital public infrastructurecan drive targeted service delivery, financialinclusion, and rapid innovation. The shift towardopen networks and interoperability is a definingtrend. Initiatives like the GSMA Open Gateway andthe adoption of standardized APIs are making iteasier for developers and enterprises to build on topof existing connectivity platforms, accelerating thedeployment of new services across sectors such asmobility, energy, and public safety. This report is both a testament to the progressmade and a call to action. The journey to people-centred smart cities is not a race for technologydeployment but a societal transformation. Byharnessing digital foundations, open platforms,and cross-sector partnerships, cities can becomeengines of sustainable growth and opportunityfor all. The time to act is now—so that the citiesof tomorrow are not only smart, but truly people-centred, resilient, and inclusive. Mobile operators are at the centre of thistransformation. Their role has evolved fromproviding basic connectivity to becoming end-to-end digital partners—offering cloud and edgecomputing, AI-powered analytics, digital payments,and sector-specific platforms for utilities, transport,and p