Page 50 - Building digital public infrastructure for cities and communities

is the use of regulatory sandboxes, controlled environments where cities or regions can pilot DPI
innovations under relaxed regulatory conditions before broader deployment.

Additionally, multilevel data governance frameworks are essential to clarify the respective roles
and responsibilities of federal and municipal actors in areas such as data collection, stewardship
and interoperability. This is particularly important in smart city contexts, where local authorities
play a key role in the delivery and management of digital services that depend on data sharing
across jurisdictions.

DPI Regulation through standards and industry/community led instruments

While formal legislation remains a cornerstone of DPI governance, many governments increasingly
complement it with soft regulatory instruments such as guidelines, voluntary codes of conduct and
technical recommendations, and the adoption of international standards. These non-binding tools
allow policy makers to respond more quickly to technological change, offering flexibility without
the delays of legislative reform.

Key considerations for policymakers include aligning national DPI initiatives with internationally
recognized standards – such as those developed by ITU, ISO and the World Wide Web Consortium
(W3C) – to ensure consistency in areas such as data governance, cybersecurity and interoperability.
In parallel, regulatory bodies should be empowered to develop sector-specific guidelines that can
adapt over time to evolving technological trends and market needs. Additionally, encouraging the
adoption of open standards and DPGs not only strengthens interoperability across systems but also
helps avoid vendor lock-in, lowers long-term costs and enhances the resilience and inclusiveness
of digital infrastructure.

6.4 Stakeholders’ engagement and public trust

For DPI to be truly effective and sustainable it must be more than a technological system, it must be
trusted by the public and co-owned by society. Trust is not automatic; it is built through continuous,
inclusive engagement with a broad ecosystem of stakeholders, including citizens, civil society,
industry, academia and government institutions. Transparent participatory processes ensure
that DPI responds to real needs, protects fundamental rights and delivers tangible public value
(Ehwi, 2019; Eaves & Rao, 2025). This section guides policymakers on how to design stakeholder
engagement processes that foster legitimacy, accountability and trustworthiness in DPI ecosystems.

DPI is not only a government initiative, it is also a shared societal asset. Stakeholder collaboration
influences DPI design, use and governance, ensuring innovation, scalability, security and accessibility
(OECD, 2024, p.21). Policymakers must identify and engage all relevant actors early in the DPI
lifecycle in order to avoid blind spots, capture diverse needs and ensure alignment across sectors.
Key stakeholder groups include:

1. Citizens & Communities.

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