Page 337 - Shaping smarter and more sustainable cities - Striving for sustainable development goals

 Public roads: Road networks facilitate the laying of telecommunication transmission lines.

 Traffic light's networks: Traffic lights can be used for wireless connectivity. In fact, there are
initiatives that use preinstalled infrastructure for traffic control network. This type of network
has centralized intelligence that demands telecommunications for the vehicles control system.

4.2.2 Strategies to boost the demand

ICT are demanded for its utility. The services and valuable content are what provide meaning and
utility to its infrastructure. Without infrastructure, the content and services do not exist. The mutual
dependence of both infrastructure and content is what configures its development.

When governments intervene on infrastructure that supports ICT, they are concerned about two
aspects: (i) management of services and (ii) establishment of good relationships with the citizens
 Give content to the demand: Currently, the biggest boost to the demand for ICT comes from the
possible exploitation of the broadband services such as VoIP, IPTV, monitoring camera
applications, video streaming, augmented reality, video conferencing, etc. In this sense, the
government can stimulate the demand by using those tools and providing content over the
network.

 Train users in the use of ICT: The intervention may be oriented to improve both disposition of
consumers to use technology (since what is not known is not appreciated) and increase their
capabilities.

 Provide connectivity: Hardware, software, appropriate contents as well as knowledge and skills
to micro, small and medium enterprises (SME) should also be provided.

 Give direct subsidy: First, government can subsidy the User Final System (directed to the
terminal such as the PC or to the modem). This kind of subsidy is usually used on educational
institutions. Second, government can subsidy the access itself.

 Provide public free access at municipal level (it means a full connection subsidy). This is
increasingly widespread and funds will usually come from supranational contributions canalized
by regional and local governments.

4.2.3 Regulation and financing

No infrastructure deployment strategy can forget the regulation and financing aspects. In markets
involving utility networks such as telecommunications, regulation is essential.
The regulatory institutions are different according to the national law. They are affected by the type
of State (unitary, federal or confederal), and also by the integration of a country. Strong integration
will lead to supranational regulations to be applicable in the whole country.
The regulatory role of local governments can vary depending on the countries, and it can be
extremely relevant in countries that are highly decentralized. Local government's capacities to
involve in regulation and financing of city infrastructures may vary depending on their correlated
legal‐institutional frameworks and jurisdictions. An example would be the United States, where
each state has been given extensive jurisdictions over the telecommunication infrastructures.

ITU‐T's Technical Reports and Specifications 327