The Digital Cities’11 Conference at
ITU Telecom World 2011 in Geneva, Switzerland on 24-27 October will focus on
the trends shaping global city development, and ask city mayors, leading urban
developers and experts in the provision of essential public services for their
views on the opportunities and solutions offered by information and
communications technologies (ICTs).

The conference, supported by Alcatel-Lucent, will focus
on how the public and private sectors can come together to design and develop
the next generation of urban living. Participants will also address connected
urban development and how next-generation networks can enhance socio-economic
development, increase the health and well-being of urban citizens and enable
environmental sustainability.

Panel discussions and workshops will include mayors from
the world’s major cities, together with digital innovators, utility experts,
industry CEOs and city planning and transport specialists.

Top-level speakers and participants include: Gabrielle
Gauthey, EVP, Public Affairs, Alcatel-Lucent; Kim Seang-tae, President,
National Information Society Agency, Advisor to the President of Korea; Wim
Elfrink, Chief Globalization Officer, Cisco; Suvi Linden, former Minister of
Communications, Finland and Special Envoy to the Broadband Commission for
Digital Development; Peter Pitch, Director Communications Policy, Intel
Corporation; and Juan Sabines Guerreo, Governor of Chiapas.

Our planet will soon be home to seven billion people. As
cities demand more and more from our industry and city dwellers account for
half of the world’s population, the time is right for a dedicated conference
within the ITU Telecom World event that drives high-level debate and generates
key insights into the connected and digital future of urban life,” said ITU
secretary general Hamadoun Toure.

The Digital Cities Conference is specifically designed
to be the focal point for informed and defining debate on the future of urban
digital development,” said Ben Verwaayen, CEO, Alcatel-Lucent.

Given the pace at which people are embracing digital
life, it is becoming ever more crucial that the industry connects and
integrates city infrastructure and services with technologies that will help
ensure the sustainability of cities, and improve life, work and well-being for
their residents,” Verwaayen added.

By Telecomlead.com Team
[email protected]