Telecommunications giant Orange and technology company SmartKey have created the first Blockchain of Thing (BoT) SIM card to implement access control and other smart city functions on a mobile phone. Thanks to the new partnership, access control, smart bikes, utilities and other smart city elements will soon be available to manage through blockchain technology.   The partnership is based on the SmartKey pilot program “Rescue without Barriers”, which allows the Olsztyn city rescue services in Poland to have instant access to each safe area and building in their district using blockchain. The technology enables hospital barriers and other gates to automatically unlock and open for rescue vehicles, thereby reducing response times. This is one example of many possible access control features based on blockchain and connectivity in the licensed operator’s band, setting the scene for Orange as the first global operator to use blockchain to promote the smart cities of…