Archive

What does it take to make urban infrastructure truly connected and responsive?

Conversations around smart governance and digital urban ecosystems highlighted a key shift: cities are moving beyond data collection toward AI-powered analytics and coordinated public services.

In an interview featured by TECHx Media Ilya Belyakov, CTO of Integra City, shared how unified digital platforms help governments integrate infrastructure systems, strengthen public safety, and enable faster, more informed operational decisions.

As urban environments grow more complex, the ability to connect data, platforms, and analytics into a single ecosystem is becoming essential for building resilient, efficient, and citizen-focused cities.

Watch the full interview at TECHx Media – English Official

Smart city technology company Integra City says governments need to better protect surveillance systems and build their own AI infrastructure as cyber threats grow and countries try to rely less on foreign tech.

Ilya Belyakov, Chief Technology Officer at Integra City, said the company works on “solutions for smart, safe cities and governments,” especially border security and protecting critical infrastructure.

“Our flagship solution for safe cities is Nexus,” he said. “It is a combination of infrastructure, hardware, and software that allows us to create a ‘safe zone’ protected against external attacks.”

Growing fears over surveillance hacks

Belyakov said recent global incidents show how vulnerable surveillance systems can be.

“If you have been following the news recently, you will see a lot of information regarding these breaches,” he said. “For instance, in Iran, the surveillance system was hacked, allowing outside actors to monitor everything happening on the ground.”

He said these incidents are becoming more common.

“Protecting your own surveillance network is key to maintaining certainty against potential attacks and destabilisation.”

The company develops security tools designed to stop attacks on surveillance networks, which it sees as part of critical infrastructure.

Countries want more control over AI

Integra City says many countries still depend on foreign companies for AI and smart city technology.

“Many leading countries develop their own internal solutions and sell them globally, which essentially makes you dependent on their technology,” Belyakov said.

The company promotes building local AI data centres so governments can control their own systems and data instead of relying on outside providers.

Running AI on older hardware

Integra City also promotes a tool that reduces how much computing power AI systems need through a process called neural network quantisation.

“This technology significantly reduces the load on a data centre without losing any quality,” Belyakov said. “You don’t need equipment that just came out of the oven five minutes ago. You can take hardware released five years ago and it will still run these models perfectly.”

This method reduces the size of AI models and lets older computers run advanced tasks like facial recognition or traffic analysis. The company says this can cut costs and reduce electronic waste.

Morocco’s smart city push

Morocco is speeding up its digital plans under the Digital Morocco 2030 strategy.

Rabat is installing more than 4,000 smart cameras that use AI to read licence plates and detect suspicious behaviour. The focus on security is also linked to preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Worldwide, ransomware attacks on infrastructure such as water systems and traffic networks have increased in early 2026, raising concerns about the safety of connected city systems.

In March 2025, Morocco’s National Commission for the Protection of Personal Data began hearings to regulate facial recognition technology, showing the growing debate over privacy and security.

Integra City says its Nexus platform connects cameras, sensors, traffic systems and emergency services into one secure system designed to create a protected “safe zone” for cities.

Integra City International Group joins GITEX Africa 2026 in Marrakech, the continent’s premier technology and startup event. The exhibition starts 7 April and brings together over 55,000 attendees, 1,500 global exhibitors, and 700+ speakers, offering a unique platform to explore Africa’s role in the global AI economy.

At the event, Integra City will showcase a unique platform consolidating data from various urban systems into a single center for AI-co-piloted analysis and management, providing synchronized operation of all services. Its open architecture enables integration of any existing solutions and devices without requiring their replacement, creating a scalable management ecosystem.

“Morocco is becoming an AI hub, attracting talent, companies, and innovation. AI adoption is growing across sectors, from government services to infrastructure, and Morocco, as one of the largest and most influential countries in the region, is following this trajectory.” Ilya Belyakov, CTO of Integra City.

At Integra platform AI serves as an analytical tool: it processes large volumes of data from sensors and monitoring systems, assesses risks, and assists in selecting optimal response scenarios. This approach enables orchestrating a variety of solutions, improving both the speed and quality of management.

• Sfera – digital urban environment management for utilities, lighting, traffic, and environmental monitoring.
• Nexus – AI-powered public safety and traffic enforcement, enabling automated vehicle monitoring and penalties in real time.
• Kodex – digital government administration for automating workflows, approvals, taxation, and citizen identification.
• Bordex – protection of critical infrastructure with AI monitoring and advanced analytics for real-time situational awareness.

The company’s AI solutions process large volumes of sensor and monitoring data, assess risks, and manage city operations efficiently.

“We expect AI to drive efficiency, innovation, and smarter decision-making across businesses and government institutions. In the near future, cities will be safer, operations more transparent, and public services more responsive – all powered by AI technologies. Africa has the potential to become a leading example of AI-driven transformation in the region.” Ilya Belyakov.

About the Company

• Integra City is an international vertically integrated holding specializing in the development and implementation of comprehensive hardware and software solutions.

• The holding brings together over 3,000 professionals and operates through offices in multiple countries worldwide.

• Integra City implements large-scale technological projects across a wide range of industries, ensuring high levels of reliability, security, and digital transformation.

• The Integra City universal ecosystem unites key areas of digital development: urban management, security, digital government administration, and protection of critical facilities.

• Key advantages of Integra Edge-AI approach presented at GITEX Morocco includes minimal latency through on-device data processing, strong data privacy, and optimized network efficiency by reducing the load on data transmission channels.