Cities can facilitate network deployment by making their assets and land available to network providers – and foster true public-private partnerships. Both cities and network providers can benefit from the use of local authority assets in this way. Simplifying the interactions between cities and the telecommunications industry promises to significantly accelerate the expansion of existing wireless networks and connectivity and, by extension, support local economic growth and digital inclusion in cities across the world.

This is a wide-ranging policy, reflecting the importance and scale of improving urban digital infrastructure – and the multiplier effect that positive urbanization has on a number of other areas, including rural-urban linkages. It includes asset and portfolio management, budgetary aspects and shaping collaborative public-private partnerships. However, the policy reaffirms the strong position of cities: with assets and infrastructure made available to drive meaningful improvements in connectivity. Depending on local context, some cities may be able to explore all aspects of the policy in their entirety – while others may require collaboration with the national government or other stakeholders.