Egypt plans high-tech leap with new capital

In Egypt's new capital on the outskirts of Cairo, residents will use smart cards and apps to unlock doors and make payments, and surf the web on public WiFi beamed from lampposts, Reuters reported on September 2^nd.

A network of at least 6,000 cameras will monitor activity on every street, tracking pedestrians and vehicles to regulate traffic and report suspicious activity.

The New Administrative Capital (NAC) is designed to hold 6.5 million residents and is expected to open to its first civil servants later this year.

Officials say advanced technology systems will help reduce waste by detecting leaks or faults, and by allowing residents to keep an eye on consumption.

"Through their mobile app a citizen will be able to manage all their life affairs from their mobile phone," Mohamed Khalil, head of technology for the Administrative Capital for Urban Development (ACUD), commented.

Authorities plan to repeat and synchronize the technology through other developments championed under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, for whom the new city is a flagship project.