Actility, which provides low-power wide-area networks (LPWAN) connectivity for the Internet of Things (IoT), and Cicicom, a Greek ICT company, have teamed up to turn the island of Paros, Greece into what they are claiming is Europe’s first smart island. The duo has introduced an all-encompassing LoRaWAN IoT network, redefining the relationship between cities and its citizens through advanced technological solutions, primarily focused on making urban mobility a breeze.

Paros now boasts its own autonomous LoRaWAN network, connecting all digital devices for ongoing and future smart city projects. This digital infrastructure, backed by Actility’s ThingPark Enterprise platform, provides real-time data – from available parking spots to home water consumption and ambient metrics like temperature and air quality – directly to its citizens.

ThingPark Enterprise is a LoRaWAN IoT connectivity management platform that helps customers build network infrastructure by managing LoRaWAN gateways, add new LoRaWAN devices, and monitor network operations. Ensuring secure connectivity, it facilitates efficient data management from sensors to cloud applications and offers modularity and scalability.

The first task tackled in this smart city transformation was one of urban mobility’s significant challenges: parking. The questions were direct – how can parking become a hassle-free experience? How can parking spots be effectively monitored in real-time?

The solution is Cicicom’s Smart Parking platform. Kickstarting with 150 parking sensors around the port, the vision is expansive, with plans to incorporate more utilities. A key component, Cicicom’s parking sensor S-LG-I3, boasts a 99 per cent detection rate, prolonged battery lifespan, and the ability to identify the parked vehicle via identification tags.

The benefits of this system include streamlining the parking process, with real-time information on availability and navigation; alleviating traffic congestion; promoting environmental sustainability by decreasing vehicle emissions; effective management of special use parking areas; harnessing real-time parking data for strategic municipal decisions; enhancing traffic law efficiency; and cutting down administrative costs for the municipality.

“I feel immense pleasure to endorse Cicicom for their revolutionary Smart Parking solution, powered by Lorawan technology,” said Samios Thanasis, Deputy Mayor of Paros. “This collaboration will catapult Paros into the forefront of smart cities globally. With real-time parking details made readily available, our traffic management will improve significantly and our endeavours for environmental sustainability will achieve a new benchmark. This solution will streamline parking, thus enhancing overall user experience, while reducing congestion. Our strategic partnership with Cicicom, an IoT industry leader, is reflective of our commitment to making Paros a city that is prosperous in every aspect.”