South African telco Vodacom said on Thursday its enterprise unit is working with local governments to implement smart city solutions for use cases such as utilities management, healthcare, education and security.
Under a five-year transversal contract with the National Treasury, Vodacom Business said it is delivering digital solutions that will enable municipal governments to make services more efficient and inclusive.
“We aim to use our experience and expertise in understanding government needs to achieve their smart city goals,” said Vodacom Business Director Videsha Proothveerajh in a statement. “This includes digitalising utilities management, healthcare, education and security, which streamline operations, enhance efficiencies and improve the lives of citizens.”
Vodacom Business’ smart utilities management system uses connected smart meters to provide real-time information on consumption and enable more accurate billing and revenue collection.
On the healthcare front, Vodacom Business offers a stock visibility solution for healthcare facilities to better keep track of equipment, supplies and dispensing of medication, and a smart dispatch system that allows users to track ambulance requests. Meanwhile, the AitaHealth smartphone-based platform helps community health workers to deliver preventative care services at home.
Smart education solutions include remote learning and streamlined online admissions processes. And public safety apps include IoT-based soltuions such as bodycams and real-time firearm tracking and geofencing.
Vodacom Business said it has also developed and deployed a “citizen engagement” app that enables “two-way communication and collaboration between citizens and municipalities, including logging service requests and tracking their progress.”
The South African government has been keen on harnessing smart-city tech for several years now. In 2021, the Department of Cooperative Governance published the South African Smart Cities Framework in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
In 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa launched several smart city infrastructure projects, including the ZAR84 billion (US$4.8 billion) Mooikloof Mega City project near Pretoria, and another smart city project near Lanseria Airport near Johannesburg.
However, it’s been slow going for both projects. According to the latest media reports, Mooikloof is still in the construction phase and has been reportedly hampered by funding disputes between the government and developer Balwin Properties.
Meanwhile, developers at the Lanseria site reportedly have not yet broken ground, having spent the last four years developing a plan for the project and getting the necessary approvals to build out the bulk infrastructure
All of which could mean that existing municipalalities that adopt smart city solutions from Vodacom and other solution providers may potentially end up as poster children for the promised benefits of smart-city tech long before dedicated smart city projects are completed.
