Smart street lamps are being installed in towns and cities across the UK as part of a government pilot programme to test next-generation digital technologies, according to a statement. Through the Smart Infrastructure Pilots Programme (SIPP), the government will provide 1.3 million GBP for the installation of the technology, while the local authorities will invest a further 2.7 million GBP.
The smart street lamps will house equipment to support advanced wireless networks like 5G or free public WiFi. They can also be used to charge electric vehicles, monitor air quality and save energy with street lighting. “With the rising demand for wireless services, companies are increasingly exploring opportunities to install infrastructure on lamp posts, traffic lights, CCTV columns, benches, bins and bus stops,” explains the statement.
Six areas have been chosen to receive funding for the trial: Cambridgeshire, Tees Valley, Kingston upon Thames, Westminster, Oxfordshire and North Ayrshire Council. By trialling different uses across these areas, the pilot aims to show how state-of-the-art wireless technology can become an “integral part of UK infrastructure” that connects public services and businesses.
Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure Sir John Whittingdale said: “We want to ensure that towns and cities across the UK are right at the forefront of this connectivity revolution, ready to seize the opportunities it will bring for local communities.” Julian David, CEO of the technology trade organization techUK, described the announcement as a “welcome step from the UK government in putting wireless connectivity at the heart of local infrastructure deployment”.
The pilot programmes will run from October 2023 to March 2025. ce/em
