 Working together to connect. Today half the world lives in urban areas and by 2050 it's estimated that 70% of the global population will live in densely populated mega cities. As urban growth accelerates worldwide cities will need to adapt to become inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Information and communication technologies can turn urban areas into smart cities improving public services and quality of life. Smart cities use digital technology to manage traffic flow, measure the effect of environmental pollution, increase food and crop productivity, manage water resources and much more. Delivery of services including education, health, transport, trade and tourism all depend on advances made in information and communication technologies. ITU members have co-created a report on the creation of smart cities and society. The report documents experiences and contributions concerning methods of improving connectivity to support smart cities. Best practices for fostering and enabling the use of smart devices and best practices in building smart cities. Both public funding and private sector participation is needed for the necessary infrastructure to create smart cities. As such, business models will need to attract investors. However, building ICT infrastructure like data centers is only one step. Different sectors will need to come together to make sure ICT infrastructure is used fully. Information silos between departments and industries hinder the creation of smart cities. Well-planned, phased-in priorities that favor innovation will help us create smart cities that boost economies and make sustainable development a reality. Working together to connect www.itu.int