By 2030, urban areas are projected to house 60% of the world’s population, account for three-quarters of total global energy demand, and comprise 81% of global consumption. Clearly, the future is urban.

So it’s to be expected that, as the world becomes more urban, the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include a target devoted to “Sustainable Cities and Communities.” And with the remaining targets of critical import to cities, it’s also no surprise that a study of 167 cities worldwide found that 77% included SDGs in their planning.

It’s true that the global pandemic has stalled many urban transformation plans that support the SDGs. But with the crisis comes an opportunity to boost a sustainable economic recovery that leads to a better normal. That is, the chance to shape the recovery to address social, economic, and environmental challenges. To do this, cities will need to align their planning with some key urban transformation trends by 2030, as outlined in the Deloitte study, Urban Future with a Purpose: 12 trends shaping the future of cities. Supported by insights from experts—including mayors, urban planners, international organizations, and urban policy institutions—the study identifies where cities need to focus their efforts and resources to achieve truly sustainable cities.

The “smart city” concept has been adopted by cities and counties globally. While the term is inexact, a typical vision is of an IT-enabled environment that efficiently and effectively delivers public services; enables informed, proactive decision-making by the leadership; and promotes sustainability through better resource utilization.

To deliver on this vision, smart cities require a massive deployment of information and communications technologies (ICT), including wired and wireless technologies. Included in this ICT array would be a multitude of networks and sensors in an Internet of Things (IoT) framework that permeates all sectors of modern life. Applications include smart electric grids, intelligent transportation systems, integrated monitoring systems and decision-support systems, to name the most prominent.

As smart cities evolve, the demand for seamless and reliable Internet access becomes crucial for both public and private sectors. High-performance wireless networks are at the heart of these cities, connecting everything from streetlights to traffic systems. To support this infrastructure, advanced WiFi solutions are necessary not only for large-scale deployments but also for personal use in homes and businesses. Devices like the Ryoko WLAN router offer a flexible and portable solution for individuals needing reliable Internet access in these densely connected environments. Such devices can complement the broader smart city infrastructure by ensuring stable connectivity on a more personal level.

While a true end-to-end “smart city” with all these applications does not yet exist, many cities across the globe, such as Helsinki, Singapore and Seoul, have made significant progress in delivering on the promise. Many others, such as Ho Chi Minh City and the Iskandar Region in Malaysia, are in the advanced planning stages. Unfortunately, while a handful of U.S. cities have implemented some isolated solutions, progress in the United States on a broader smart city deployment significantly lags the international players.