Metropolitan regions North Carolina and FrankfurtRheinMain - a comparison of structures, demographics and economic power in relation to smart services

Abstract

The article compares the digital transformation strategies and regional development trajectories of North Carolina and the FrankfurtRheinMain metropolitan region, examining how structural, demographic and economic conditions shape their capacity to deploy smart services and strengthen competitiveness. Objectives are to analyze similarities and differences in digital infrastructure, skills, governance and inclusion, and to assess how regional characteristics influence the design and impact of digital initiatives. This is important because both regions are economically strong hubs that seek to leverage digitalization for long-term growth, social inclusion and quality of life. The study builds on concepts of smart cities, digital equity, regional innovation systems and metropolitan governance, and connects US debates on closing the digital divide with European discussions on smart city development and digital regional policy. It links empirical data and policy documents from North Carolina’s digital equity and broadband programs with strategic initiatives and statistical profiles of FrankfurtRheinMain as a German metropolitan region. Methodologically, the paper applies a comparative case study approach, combining document analysis of policy strategies, investment programs and regional statistics with a structured cross-case comparison along the dimensions of infrastructure, skills, social inclusion and economic orientation. Results show that North Carolina prioritizes massive investment in basic broadband infrastructure and targeted measures against the digital divide, while FrankfurtRheinMain builds on a more advanced infrastructure to focus on smart city projects, 5G rollout and digitalization of finance and urban services. Both regions strongly emphasize digital skills, but differ in their instruments for social inclusion, with North Carolina relying more on affordability programs and device access, and FrankfurtRheinMain concentrating on groups with specific participation barriers. The findings imply that academics and policymakers should treat digital transformation as context-dependent, requiring place-sensitive mixes of infrastructure investment, skills development and governance coordination. For practitioners, the study highlights transferable practices in smart city development from FrankfurtRheinMain and in digital equity and inclusion from North Carolina. The paper’s value lies in offering a structured, transatlantic comparison that integrates economic, infrastructural and social dimensions of digital transformation at regional scale. It contributes an original dual focus on smart services and digital equity, demonstrating how two advanced regions can follow divergent yet complementary paths toward similar strategic goals, and outlining concrete areas where mutual policy learning is feasible.