Smart City | IOT NETWORK NEWS

Zero Bills homes launch in Scotland

January 22, 2026January 18, 2026 RAA

Octopus Energy is launching its first eligible Zero Bills homes in the Scottish city of Dundee. Eligible homes mean householders won’t have to pay anything for their home energy bills for at least 10 years. All 57 properties at the Tranent Grove development in North Dundee with Discovery Homes will be eligible for Octopus Energy’s Zero Bills tariff as an optional upgrade for homebuyers (cost will vary on a case-by-case basis). It marks the first Zero Bills site north of the border. Renewable energy powerhouse Launched in 2022, Zero Bills…

Abu Dhabi advances sustainable smart city development

January 15, 2026January 9, 2026 RAA

The Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre (ADPIC) has signed two agreements with China’s urban development firms during the Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit (ADIS) International Roadshow in Shanghai, China, focused on advanced modular construction systems and AI-driven smart city solutions. ADPIC formalised partnerships with Q Home, a joint venture between NetZero (UAE) and Broad Homes (China), to localise modular construction systems and industrialised building technologies, and 3Enovator Technology to deploy AI applications in infrastructure governance and digital transformation of capital projects. Smart and sustainable frameworks The agreements aim to strengthen…

Canberra expands neighbourhood battery network

January 14, 2026January 9, 2026 RAA

Canberra’s latest neighbourhood battery has gone live in Fadden, joining others in Dickson and Casey as part of the Big Canberra Battery project, delivered in partnership with Evoenergy. The battery is located on Hanlon Crescent, near Fadden Primary School and Fadden Shops. Neighbourhood-scale batteries The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government is exploring more opportunities for neighbourhood-scale batteries across the region. The batteries will help futureproof the ACT’s electricity network and are an important step in the ACT’s efforts to reach net-zero emissions by 2045. The batteries have a power capacity…

German public transport operator to deploy 61 battery trains

January 13, 2026January 9, 2026 RAA

Rock Rail and Siemens are to deliver 61 battery-powered trains for the Northern Westphalia Network to Zweckverband Nahverkehr Westfalen-Lippe (NWL), the public transport association of Westphalia-Lippe. The Mireo Plus B battery-powered trains from Siemens Mobility will be deployed on the routes of the Northern Westphalia Network (NNW) starting in December 2029. Leasing model The financing and provision of the vehicles will be carried out via an innovative leasing model by Rock Rail NnW. This order claims to be the largest modernisation step for regional passenger rail transport in the region…

Tallinn to undertake dynamic traffic management viability study

January 7, 2026January 7, 2026 Editorial staff

The Tallinn Transport Board has announced a public procurement for the preliminary study of a dynamic smart traffic management project. This is the first stage of the project which will lay the foundation for the eventual implementation of adaptive traffic light systems in the Estonian capital. Traffic management systems The preliminary study will seek to assess the current state of Tallinn’s traffic management systems and define the target situation. The board reports that a market and technology overview will then be prepared, and solutions used in other European Union countries…

QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge winner named

December 29, 2025November 25, 2025 Editorial staff

A company that uses advanced mapping technology to help coastal communities see environmental change – and act – before it becomes catastrophic, has been named as the QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge winner for 2025. RCOAST was chosen from more than 820 startups across 71 countries through a six-month vetting process in the global accelerator, held by non-profit Leading Cities and the QBE Foundation. The winner was awarded $100,000 in non-equity funding to pilot its solution through Leading Cities’ AcceliGOV programme, where communities around the world apply for no-cost project deployments.…

Plymouth mobility hub earns shared transport gold standard

December 26, 2025November 25, 2025 Editorial staff

The UK city of Plymouth has earned gold standard accreditation for its mobility hub from the shared transport charity Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK). The Connect Plymouth Hub on Mayflower Street makes it easier for people to travel sustainable, incorporating its own fleet of e-bikes, an electric car club vehicle, and an accompanying set of rapid EV charging stations. The facility is also served by a bus stop carrying real-time travel information, while the city’s coach station is only 50 metres away, allowing for easy onward travel. Rise of mobility hubs…

Espoo streamlines online services

December 22, 2025November 25, 2025 Editorial staff

The Finnish city of Espoo has introduced a portal that brings all of its services together in one place for residents. The OmaEspoo portal aims to make online transactions smoother and more streamlined regardless of time or location. Digital channels and chat The range of services will be gradually expanded, but already the portal allows users to give feedback on school transportation, request digital support, and send questions or requests for advice to service units. The service is still in its pilot phase and is continuously being improved. OmaEspoo also…

MTA progresses 5G cellular roll-out on US subway

December 15, 2025November 25, 2025 Editorial staff

Telco AT&T and neutral host provider Boldyn Networks have announced the launch of 5G cellular service in the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Crosstown G train line segments. It marks another major milestone in the MTA and Boldyn’s ongoing effort to bring high-speed connectivity to the entire New York City Subway system. Cellular service in tunnels AT&T riders travelling on the G line between Court Square station in Long Island City, Queens and Bedford-Nostrand Avenue station in Brooklyn, can now access cellular service in tunnels. This latest activation follows the recent…

Which European cities are top for smart tourism?

November 26, 2025November 25, 2025 Editorial staff

Tampere in Finland and Dubrovnik in Croatia have been selected as the winners of the EU’s 2026 European Capital and Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism competitions, respectively. In total, 58 destinations from 22 countries competed for the European Capital and Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism titles. The 15 shortlisted destinations were invited to present their cases to the jury in Brussels, who selected the winners of both competitions. Smart tourism judging criteria The European Capital of Smart Tourism recognises outstanding achievements by European cities as tourism destinations in four categories:…

Urbana Smart Solutions and RAKwireless power the next generation of LoRaWAN smart lighting

November 6, 2025November 4, 2025 Editorial staff

Cities nowadays want more from their streetlights than simple illumination. They expect them to last for years by saving energy and even act as part of wider smart city services. However, the reality often looks different when large projects roll out. Thousands of controllers need to work together and still face problems with reliability, compatibility across different lighting systems, and network congestion. This is because so many devices cannot connect in the same area. Maintenance teams also struggle because replacing or fixing devices is expensive and takes up too much…

Installed base of smart streetlights to surpass 100m worldwide

October 13, 2025September 18, 2025 Editorial staff

The installed base of smart streetlights is forecast to reach 85 million by the end of 2029, and growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 21 per cent will surpass 100 million by 2030, according to a new research report. Analyst firm Berg Insight’s report finds that Europe leads the adoption of smart street lighting technology and accounted for as much as 35 per cent of the global installed base in 2024. The installed base of smart street lights amounted to 32.9 million globally at the end…

nRF9160 cellular IoT module detects leaks in water pipes

September 22, 2025 Editorial staff

7Sense has partnered with the Norwegian Municipality of Horten to implement its nRF9160 SiP-powered leak detecting system to reduce water waste and meet sustainability goals. Water waste is a critical global issue, with countries around the world grappling with both the environmental and financial consequences. Fresh drinking water, in particular, is increasingly valuable, as over 2.2 billion people around the world already have no access to “safely managed drinking-water services” (that is, uncontaminated, on-site, and freely available water sources). And it’s not just large-scale losses that are of concern –…

SKBM Smart Technology and Asset Living forge smart-building partnership

August 20, 2025August 13, 2025 Editorial staff

SKBM Smart Technology, the nation’s only vendor-agnostic smart building aggregator operating nationally, has announced that Asset Living the second-largest property management firm in the United States (U.S.) with a portfolio exceeding 300,000 units—has selected SKBM Smart Technology as its preferred partner for all Smart Building Projects. “Our partnership with Asset Living cements SKBM’s leadership as the premier vendor-agnostic smart building aggregator,” said Brian Doherty, the chief revenue officer at SKBM Smart Technology. “Together, we’re leveraging our 530,000+ installs, 18+ strategic partnerships, and coast-to-coast footprint to deliver future-flexible, fully integrated PropTech…

Pavegen showcases future of clean energy across London sites

July 17, 2025July 7, 2025 Editorial staff

Global cleantech pioneer Pavegen has unveiled three new interactive installations at iconic London spaces as it also announces its latest crowdfunding campaign. The “Step Up for Climate Change” project will see Pavegen technology installed at 22 Bishopsgate, Old Spitalfields Market, during London Climate Action Week and the Wimbledon Tennis Championships over the next fortnight. Measurable climate change Pavegen claims these public-facing installations will transform everyday movement into measurable climate change with Pavegen, in partnership with reforestation company, Evergreen, pledging to plant a tree for every 200 footsteps recorded. The campaign…