Sunderland City Profile: Frontier transformation in practice
Download the SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Sunderland Cities everywhere are facing the same pressure: modernize infrastructure, grow the economy, and improve quality of life, without widening inequality. Sunderland offers a credible path forward. Once defined by shipbuilding and coal mining, Sunderland has spent the last four decades deliberately reinventing itself. Today, it is positioning itself as the UK’s leading smart city by investing in digital infrastructure, data, and low‑carbon innovation to drive inclusive, long‑term growth. The latest City Profile from SmartCitiesWorld captures how this strategy is being executed and why it matters for city leaders globally. A digital backbone built for outcomes, not optics Sunderland’s progress starts with a clear foundation: connectivity and data designed with purpose. Full‑fibre connectivity across the city Citywide 5G and LoRaWAN coverage A secure, cloud‑based smart city data platform Together, this stack enables real‑time visibility across transport, environment, and public services. More importantly, it shifts the city from reactive decision‑making to proactive, evidence‑led operations. The impact is measurable. Data and analytics now support: Safer, more predictable event planning Smarter traffic and mobility management Earlier environmental interventions More targeted social and health services From digital health hubs that reduce exclusion to intelligent transport pilots that cut emissions and improve safety, Sunderland is applying technology where it delivers the highest public value—not where it looks most impressive on a slide. What comes next: two opportunities to scale impact The City Profile also highlights where cities like Sunderland can go further. Two opportunities stand out. Move from smart services to predictive city operations With real‑time data already in place, the next step is predictive modeling—anticipating demand across social care, transport, energy, and public safety before pressure points emerge. Done right, this enables earlier investment decisions, lower long‑term costs, and better outcomes across services. Turn digital inclusion into a workforce engine Sunderland’s digital health hubs create a foundation for something bigger: linking access and digital skills directly to workforce development. By aligning inclusion efforts with local demand in advanced manufacturing, data, and clean energy, cities can convert access into sustained economic mobility. Why Sunderland’s approach matters Sunderland’s experience reinforces a critical point: smart city transformation is not about technology in isolation. It is about aligning infrastructure, data, governance, and community priorities around a shared vision for inclusive growth. For public‑sector leaders moving from ambition to execution, the full City Profile provides practical insight into the partnerships, operating models, and decisions behind Sunderland’s approach. It’s a useful reference for anyone looking to translate a digital‑first strategy into measurable impact—for people, place, and long‑term resilience.December Prompt-a-thon for Government Customers
Ready to unlock the power of AI for government missions? Join us for an immersive in-person Copilot Prompt‑a‑thon designed to help you master prompt engineering, collaborate with experts, and tackle real‑world scenarios using M365 Copilot GCC. This is your chance to transform workflows, boost efficiency, and lead the way in Generative AI adoption.Two Public Sector Roundtables at PPCC25
Heading to the Power Platform Community Conference in Las Vegas? Don’t miss two sessions designed for the public sector. The Microsoft Sovereign Cloud Architect Panel gives U.S. GCC, GCC High, and DoD customers direct access to Microsoft experts for roadmap and security insights. Meanwhile, Powering Public Impact brings together global government and education leaders to share strategies for governance, AI adoption, and scaling low‑code innovation. Join these conversations to learn, connect, and shape the future of digital transformation in government.New Teams rollout schedule for GCC and GCC High customers
The new Teams client is available for a wide range of platforms, including Windows, Mac, VDI, Edu, and Web, and adheres to the Modern Lifecycle Policy, ensuring that users always have access to the latest capabilities, security, and reliability of the app.
