DigiEcoCity, Nokia Siemens Networks to create world’s first digital eco-city in Gongqing

Nokia Siemens Networks provides consulting on building digital infrastructure into city planning.

DigiEcoCity Ltd has selected Nokia Siemens Networks to provide consulting services for the planned digital eco-city called DigiEcoCity in Gongqing in the Jiangxi Province of China. The partnership is aimed at developing Gongqing into a model city based on the principles of sustainable development that uses digital technology* to provide a high-quality of life to its residents. DigiEcoCity Ltd is a Nordic firm specializing in planning and building sustainable living and working environments with enhanced digital services.

“The Gongqing DigiEcoCity project is a result of our collaboration with the Gongqing city to develop the best place to live that will serve as the benchmark for future DigiEcoCities,” said Heikki Lassila, vice president of operations at DigiEcoCity Ltd. “The prime difference with other similar projects is incorporation of digital infrastructure design into the early phase of city planning. Nokia Siemens Networks will bring the much-needed knowledge in this area to help us realize our aim faster.”

Nokia Siemens Networks will provide consultancy services on business model and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) architecture design for Gongqing DigiEcoCity with a focus on smart metering, energy management and ICT infrastructure.

“As a result of growing urbanization, half of the population on the planet live in cities and this will rise by a further 1.3 billion by 2025. While it is important to provide a better quality of life for urban citizens, the impact of urbanization on the environment must be minimized,” added Mark Atkinson, head of business development at Nokia Siemens Networks China. “Communications technology can play a pivotal role in realizing these twin goals by helping develop smarter cities.”

When completed, the Gongqing DigiEcoCity will have close to 100,000 residents, with ‘Digi’ and ‘Eco’ thinking integrated in all stages of its design. ‘Digi’ and ‘Eco’ thinking proposes to design a city by keeping several key factors in consideration to ensure minimal environmental impact, including minimal dependence on excessive external energy sources, minimal waste production and minimal pollution.
About DigiEcoCity

DigiEcoCity Ltd is a Nordic company that is devoted to plan and build sustainable living environment enhanced with digital services for citizens. DigiEcoCity Ltd has signed two significant joint venture contracts for the construction of DigiEcoCity model cities in China. The groundbreaking ceremony for the first city took place on the 3rd of May 2010 in Gongqingcheng (Jiangxi Province). Another city will be built in Danyang (Jiangsu Province), with the groundbreaking ceremony taking place in 2011. Both cities have a planned population of approximately 100,000 people.