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Oxfordshire to test smart street lamps in £0.5m trial
29/09/2023
The technology could also be installed in traffic lights, benches, bins and bus stops
Street lamps which charge electric vehicles and boost 5G coverage could be coming to local roads, after Oxfordshire County Council secured £250,000 of government funding to test the latest technology.
Smart street lamps are set to be installed around the county with the County Council named as one of six authorities joining a government trial. No specific sites for the trial in Oxfordshire have been named yet.
The rising demand for next-generation wireless services has led to work being undertaken to investigate opportunities to install smart infrastructure on lamp posts, traffic lights, CCTV columns – and even benches, bins and bus stops.
The columns can be adapted to carry out a range of functions – from charging EVs, monitoring air quality and displaying public information to saving energy with street lighting.
The County Council will match the government funding meaning £500,000 will be spent on the project.
Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “I am delighted with our success in this funding competition. It will help us in building and delivering our strategy for improving digital connectivity.
“This includes EV charging access, improving street-level mobile connectivity and creating a network of ‘Internet of Things’ devices¹ measuring aspects such as air quality monitoring.”
The pilot will demonstrate how new connected installations can help local authorities to deliver better services in their communities.
The pilot programmes will run until March 31, 2025.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam