Cisco has declared Adelaide to be the first smart and connected ‘Lighthouse City’ in Australia. Announcing the move, the State Government said: “Lighthouse City status is a boon for the State that will allow access to Cisco’s huge global network, and see us primed to benefit from the economic and social transformation set to occur as the exciting next phase of the internet rapidly takes shape.”
The announcement follows the signing of a MoU last year between the State Government, Adelaide City Council and Cisco to launch Australia’s first ‘Internet of Things’ Innovation Hub.
Cisco’s president, smart+connected communities and deputy chief globalisation officer, Dr Anil Menon, said the Lighthouse City status for Adelaide would help make it one of the leading global examples of a smart and sustainable city.
“As a Cisco Lighthouse City, Adelaide will be one of the very few cities ready to develop and pilot new urban services and solutions to benefit the customer and citizen experience. Adelaide will have access to Cisco’s infrastructure, as well as our network of partners and global ecosystem, and importantly, we will have capacity to bring new strategic business and technology partnerships to the city.”
South Australia’s science and information economy minister, Gail Gago, said Cisco had chosen Adelaide “because of its strong and visionary leadership, innovation and our ability to embrace smart city technologies, particularly through our AdelaideFree WiFi network.”
Cisco’s president, smart+connected communities and deputy chief globalisation officer, Dr Anil Menon said the Lighthouse City status for Adelaide would help make it one of the leading global examples of a smart and sustainable city.
Adelaide City Council lord mayor, Martin Haese, said the City Council had set aside $250,000 this year for two smart city trials that will focus on parking and lighting.
“Both projects will be about making the city safer, easier to get around and more welcoming for our visitors and residents alike, with the ultimate aim of being able to generate a return on investment for our ratepayers that can be put back into other services.”
