The changing shape of smart cities: new trends and new roles for operators

This report is available to those subscribed to the IoT & Enterprise module.
Smart cities are not new, but recent developments indicate a shift to smart and sustainable cities where digital technology is used for multiple purposes including environmental aspects. This requires closer collaboration between city stakeholders throughout the entire smart city lifecycle, from the initial assessment to strategy design and implementation. Operators are increasingly involved in smart city projects. For some, their role is moving beyond providing connectivity to become smart city solution providers.
Technology is key to realising the potential of smart cities. Some technologies have already become essential (e.g. IoT, connectivity, cybersecurity and data management). Others, such as 5G, AI, digital twins and edge computing, offer opportunities for more advanced smart city applications. The diverse range of technological capabilities also requires the use of smart city platforms, which are becoming new decision-making centres.
This reports looks at the drivers of smart cities and their progress so far. It examines the possible roles for operators in phases of the smart city lifecycle, provides a selection of case studies, and offers an outlook on the potential accelerators ahead.
Related research
GSMA Open Gateway: State of the Market, H1 2025
Representing 285 networks and almost 80% of mobile subscribers worldwide, 73 operator groups are now committed to GSMA Open Gateway. This latest research provides an update on the state of the market, recent developments, and examples of GSMA Open Gateway in action. It also offers a deep dive on supply/demand gap analysis.
Made for IoT Summit 2025: key takeaways from the show
Earlier this month, Onomondo hosted the Made for IoT Summit 2025, bringing together a mix of IoT developers, device OEMs, module makers and adopters from across the IoT ecosystem, under the motto 'IoT connectivity should never be a bottleneck'. Key themes discussed included the latest GSMA eSIM SGP.32 and SGP.31 specifications, how the ecosystem is getting ready for commercial launches and the impact to connectivity service providers and device makers. Non-terrestrial networks IoT was a topic of focus as well, with the event’s participants taking note of progress being made and expressing high expectations for further advancements in the low Earth orbit space that will help drive greater adoption and lower costs. Finally, a new flagship private wireless project was unveiled in detail: Onomondo’s implementation with Maersk, Nokia and a suite of other partners that will bring private wireless to 450 ships at sea.
Edge AI: how IoT hardware and connectivity companies can drive ecosystem adoption and scale
Edge AI has gained major momentum during 2024–2025 as Qualcomm, Nordic Semiconductor, Synaptics and many others have launched significant innovations in edge silicon and hardware. This report focuses on the industrial IoT part of the market.
Authors
How to access this report
Annual subscription: Subscribe to our research modules for comprehensive access to more than 200 reports per year.
Enquire about subscriptionContact our research team
Get in touch with us to find out more about our research topics and analysis.
Contact our research teamMedia
To cite our research, please see our citation policy in our Terms of Use, or contact our Media team for more information.
Learn moreRelated research
GSMA Open Gateway: State of the Market, H1 2025
Representing 285 networks and almost 80% of mobile subscribers worldwide, 73 operator groups are now committed to GSMA Open Gateway. This latest research provides an update on the state of the market, recent developments, and examples of GSMA Open Gateway in action. It also offers a deep dive on supply/demand gap analysis.
Made for IoT Summit 2025: key takeaways from the show
Earlier this month, Onomondo hosted the Made for IoT Summit 2025, bringing together a mix of IoT developers, device OEMs, module makers and adopters from across the IoT ecosystem, under the motto 'IoT connectivity should never be a bottleneck'. Key themes discussed included the latest GSMA eSIM SGP.32 and SGP.31 specifications, how the ecosystem is getting ready for commercial launches and the impact to connectivity service providers and device makers. Non-terrestrial networks IoT was a topic of focus as well, with the event’s participants taking note of progress being made and expressing high expectations for further advancements in the low Earth orbit space that will help drive greater adoption and lower costs. Finally, a new flagship private wireless project was unveiled in detail: Onomondo’s implementation with Maersk, Nokia and a suite of other partners that will bring private wireless to 450 ships at sea.
Edge AI: how IoT hardware and connectivity companies can drive ecosystem adoption and scale
Edge AI has gained major momentum during 2024–2025 as Qualcomm, Nordic Semiconductor, Synaptics and many others have launched significant innovations in edge silicon and hardware. This report focuses on the industrial IoT part of the market.
- 200 reports a year
- 50 million data points
- Over 350 metrics