Building Inclusive Digital Infrastructure for Future-Ready Cities

On 15 September 2025, the Global Cities Hub moderated the session on “Scaling People-centred Smart City Solutions” at the Forum on Connected by Design: Building Inclusive Digital Infrastructure for Future-Ready Cities, in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

The event gathered local and regional governments (LRGs) representatives and international organizations to explore how Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) can drive inclusion, resilience, and sustainability in cities worldwide.

Digitalization is increasingly shaping urban life — from digital IDs, online payments, and data-sharing frameworks to smart urban governance and AI-enabled city services. LRGs, as the level of government closest to residents, play a decisive role in ensuring that these tools are developed inclusively and responsibly.

The Forum spotlighted scalable models from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Barcelona (Spain), and cities and provinces in India. They showcased how DPI can enhance digital inclusion, urban resilience, and citizens’ trust. It was a great example of the early involvement of LRGs that ensures that international standards reflect real needs on the ground.

The discussions linked city-level experiences with the ongoing work of ITU’s Study Group 20 (SG20), which develops international standards for smart cities and the Internet of Things (IoT). SG20 recommendations cover areas ranging from the environment to health, from utilities to transport, and from safety to education.

Key takeaways

The event produced three central conclusions:

1. Separate the governance of DPI and AI

They raise distinct regulatory, ethical, and technical issues and should not be addressed as a single governance challenge.

2. Prioritize sustainability and engagement in duration

LRGs may increasingly rely on open-source solutions and conduct sustainability assessments to ensure resilience over time.

3. Strengthen multilevel collaboration

Connecting with national governments and international partners is essential to anchor city-led projects, secure financing, and enhance interoperability.

Looking ahead

The Forum reaffirmed the mission of the Global Cities Hub to connect LRGs with international organizations and to amplify their voices in global policymaking and standard-setting processes. As digitalization becomes a key driver of urbanization, ensuring that local perspectives inform international debates will be critical. It is the right way forward to build inclusive, citizen-first, and future-ready cities.

Therefore, the GCH will further engage with the ITU in several important processes, from the Smart City Leaders Talk to the AI for Good Summit and to the Global Dialogue on AI Governance to take place in July 2026 in Geneva.

Read more on our previous activities and publications:

https://globalcitieshub.org/en/smart-cities/

https://globalcitieshub.org/en/the-ethical-use-of-artificial-intelligence-in-cities/