Transformation of Nicosia into smart city officially gets underway

Nicosia will become the first smart city on the island, improving services and increasing sustainability, the municipality announced on Tuesday.

The digital transformation of the capital got underway after the signing of contracts for the supply, installation and operation of smart city infrastructure between the municipality, Logicom Solutions and the Cyprus telecommunications authority (Cyta).

The project, which is divided in two parts, is expected to be completed in three years while the first infrastructure and smart city systems will be available within 2021. It is part of the smart city strategy 2018-2028 of the municipality, which aims to transform the capital into a smart city by 2022.

After signing the contract, Mayor Constantinos Yiorkadjis listed the advantages of the transformation and explained that the city’s transformation “will offer better services to its residents, will manage the available resources in a much better way and with less impact on the environment”.

The first section of the project concerns the Fiber Optic Network Infrastructures and the installation and operation of the Wireless Access Networks and IoT Sensors Networks (Internet of Things) by Logicom, Cisco, IoTech Systems and Cyta.

The municipality said it “has already installed the necessary infrastructure / piping for the installation of a fibre optic network (Nicosia Fiber Network – NFN) in all projects that have been recently completed or implemented during this period”. These include works in the commercial triangle of Makarios, Stasikratos and Evagoros streets, in Rigeni, Kyriakou Matsi, Kallipoleos and Eleftheria square.

The second section involves the operation of infrastructure and smart city systems for the Nicosia wireless network, info points, smart urban mobility solutions and digital signage for the promotion of tourist and cultural events, as well as smart led lighting with a monitoring system and brightness adjustment depending on the traffic “which would improve road safety”.

The new model will also contribute to the city’s sustainability.

Environmental sensors will be installed to monitor the dust in the atmosphere, the temperature and record air quality. The measurable data “can be used to tackle climate change”, the municipality said.

Part of the project is also the installation of a smart waste system which will monitor the municipality’s waste containers for more efficient rubbish collection, “saving valuable resources and improving recycling targets”.

The smart parking system is also expected to reduce traffic within the town, thus tackling air pollution. The applications will forecast traffic and track available parking spaces.

The municipality noted the importance of the supply and installation of the first smart city management platform in Nicosia. The installation will be carried out by Cyta in cooperation with the multinational company Nokia.

The second section of the project will be implemented by NewCytech, Yodiwo, and Ernst & Young.

Cyta president Rena Rouvitha underlined the importance of the project, saying how it will bring the country in line with rapid technological changes.

The project is co-founded by the European structural and investment funds, the state and the municipality.