Technologies Shaping the Smart City Future
The Evolution of the Smart City
Smart cities as a concept have been around arguably for 20 years or more, but Amsterdam is credited with creating the world’s first ‘digital city’ in 1994, to drive the uptake of Internet use by its citizens. The concept has since moved on from a purely ‘digital’ activation to a more inclusive ‘sustainable' definition. Technology obviously has a key enabler role but the value generated is more broadly spread across social, economic, and environmental dimensions.
Driving Factors Leading Smart City Development
- Population Growth: The UN has forecast that 68% of the global population in 2050 will live in cities; doubling the current level and creating concerns about the environment, living conditions for citizens, traffic, and pollution and of course the safety and security of inhabitants.
- Climate Concerns: The need to rethink how urban conglomerates are contributing to CO2 emissions and the how energy production and usage could be re-configured.
- Technology: The development of 5G networks with up to 100x speed and connectivity compared to 4G and very low latency has meant city planners can now envisage the IoT (Internet of Things) as applied to a citywide landscape.
- Commercial Innovation: Business innovations by both large tech giants and small nimble players, deployed by cities worldwide as they attempt to trial applications and realise benefits.
5G a Game Changer for Smart City Adoption
The low power required of 5G will support IoT devices using batteries which can last theoretically for decades and can support thousands of different sensors in factories, commercial premises, offices, homes, logistics flows, asset tracking (including people), and will open up completely new smart areas such as agriculture where livestock can be tracked, for example.
The Importance of Government Services
Smart cities are not just the citizens but also the enterprises which make up the economy of the city. Expansion of the commercial and industrial base of cities directly affects the revenue of the enterprises but also has positive effects on the revenue base of the city at large. A vibrant and expansive industrial or commercial base is essential for the growth of a city.
Therefore, the advent of 4G LTE and the arrival of 5G has opened up immense possibilities for enterprises across many industries, to consider the use of private networks in conjunction with IoT devices.
Smart Buildings a New Key Trend
In line with increased focus on climate and energy conservation, the EU and UK measured the energy consumption of buildings at between 35%-40% of total energy consumed. These high figures and potential huge savings propelled the next wave of smart green buildings powered by IoT sensors.
In addition to the usual monitoring of the building’s temperature and humidity and energy savings (70% less than other comparable buildings), the leading smart buildings functions are determined not by the building but by how it manages the occupant. Everything about an occupant’s experience starts in the morning with an app – it knows your diary, knows what car you drive, it finds you a spot on arrival, it directs you to an appropriate desk or meeting room depending on need (no-one has a fixed desk), it even knows your preferences for drinks and how your like your lighting or temperature.
► Smart Cities Market Research
Our latest research found:
- Shanghai will be the world’s number one smart city for 2022, thanks to its Citizen Cloud platform - a one-stop point for over 1,000 different services for city residents.
- Smart city initiatives will generate almost $70 billion in spend annually by 2026; up from $35 billion in 2021.
- Much of this will focus on smart grid initiatives, which will save over 1,000 TWh of electricity in 2026; equivalent to more than 5 years of energy consumption by Greater London at present levels.
- Smart city development are still in their early stages, particularly outside the leading cities, so initial roll-outs still make up much of the market.
FIND OUT MORE: SMART CITIES: KEY TECHNOLOGIES, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT & MARKET FORECASTS 2022-2026
Latest research, whitepapers & press releases
-
ReportOctober 2025Fintech & Payments
Digital Identity Market: 2025-2030
Juniper Research’s Digital Identity research suite provides a comprehensive and insightful analysis of this market; enabling stakeholders, including digital identity platform providers, digital identity verification providers, government agencies, banks, and many others, to understand future growth, key trends, and the competitive environment.
VIEW -
ReportOctober 2025Telecoms & Connectivity
Travel eSIM Market: 2025-2030
Our comprehensive Travel eSIMs research suite comprises detailed assessment of a market undergoing rapid growth. It provides insight into how travel eSIM providers can differentiate their services to maximise success in the market over the next two years.
VIEW -
ReportOctober 2025IoT & Emerging Technology
Direct to Satellite Market: 2025-2030
Juniper Research’s Direct to Satellite research suite provides satellite providers, investors, and partners, such as Mobile Network Operators, with an extensive analysis and insights into the direct to satellite market.
VIEW -
ReportSeptember 2025Fintech & Payments
Instant Payments Market: 2025-2030
Juniper Research’s Instant Payments research suite provides a wide-ranging and strategic analysis of this market; enabling stakeholders - from banks, infrastructure providers, regulators, and businesses - to understand future growth, key trends, and the competitive environment.
VIEW -
ReportSeptember 2025Fintech & Payments
Anti-money Laundering Systems Market: 2025-2030
Our AML Systems research suite provides a detailed and insightful analysis of this evolving market; enabling stakeholders from financial institutions, law enforcement agencies, regulatory bodies and technology vendors to understand future growth, key trends, and the competitive environment.
VIEW -
ReportSeptember 2025Fintech & Payments
A2A Payments Market: 2025-2030
Our A2A Payments research suite provides detailed analysis of this rapidly changing market; enabling A2A payments service providers to gain an understanding of key payment trends and challenges, potential growth opportunities, and the competitive environment.
VIEW
-
WhitepaperOctober 2025Fintech & Payments
How Digital Identity is Going Mainstream
Our complimentary whitepaper, How Digital Identity is Going Mainstream, assesses the trends that are moving digital identity to be increasingly popular, and challenges to digital identity growth.
VIEW -
WhitepaperOctober 2025IoT & Emerging Technology
Beam Me Up: The Direct to Satellite Revolution
Our complimentary whitepaper, Beam Me Up: The Direct to Satellite Revolution, evaluates the future key services that satellite providers must offer in the direct to satellite market.
VIEW -
WhitepaperOctober 2025Telecoms & Connectivity
Why Operators Are Launching Travel eSIMs in 2026
Our complimentary whitepaper, Why Operators Are Launching Travel eSIMs in 2026, examines the outlook of the travel eSIMs market over the next five years.
VIEW -
WhitepaperSeptember 2025Fintech & Payments
From Detection to Prevention: The Next Era of Anti-money Laundering
Our complimentary whitepaper, From Detection to Prevention: The Next Era of Anti-money Laundering, examines the state of the AML systems market; considering the impact that a changing regulatory environment and a growing number of use cases is having on the market. Additionally, it includes a forecast summary of the total value of the AML systems market in 2030.
VIEW -
WhitepaperSeptember 2025Fintech & Payments
3 Key Trends Driving Instant Payments
Our complimentary whitepaper, 3 Key Trends Driving Instant Payments, assesses how key trends are driving the evolution of the instant payments market, and which challenges these resolve. Additionally, it includes a forecast summary of the global transaction values via instant payment schemes by 2029.
VIEW -
WhitepaperSeptember 2025Fintech & Payments
Ascending-to-Ailing: The Deceleration of A2A Adoption
Our complimentary whitepaper, Ascending-to-Ailing: The Deceleration of A2A Adoption, examines the state of the A2A payments market; considering the impact of this payment method and how it is shaping the modern payments landscape through lower fees and enriched user experience.
VIEW
-
Telecoms & Connectivity
Fraud Prevention APIs to Generate $5bn for Operators Globally by 2030, But Diversification of API Applications Needed
October 2025 -
Sustainability & Smart Cities
Smart Building Interoperability Frameworks to Drive $21bn Global Platform Spend Next Year
October 2025 -
Fintech & Payments
Digital Identity Market to Exceed $80 Billion by 2030 Globally, Accelerated by Regulation & Hybrid Strategies
October 2025 -
Telecoms & Connectivity
Direct-to-Device, 5G Advanced, & AI RAN to Redefine Global Connectivity in 2026
October 2025 -
Travel eSIMs Surge as Roaming Alternative - Up 85% in 2025
October 2025 -
Fintech & Payments
Juniper Research Unveils 2025’s Fintech & Payments Awards Winners
October 2025