The Digital Infrastructure Programme and Innovation teams at Oxfordshire County Council will purchase and test 14 smart, multi-purpose lighting columns from the supplier Signify. These columns will be installed, as replacements to existing columns, in Oxford to provide mobile and wireless connectivity services. The project aligns with the Government’s UK Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, aiming to integrate advanced wireless infrastructure into the UK's economy and society by 2030.
Total project funding amount: £250,000
Project date(s): -
Category: Government Funded
Location(s): South East
Status: Open
The smart columns will create a 1.5km 'connected corridor' from the revamped Oxford train station to the city centre. This corridor will offer free Wi-Fi for visitors and residents, enhancing connectivity for tourism, local commerce, education, and transport.
The project will test various use cases, including public Wi-Fi, private connectivity for CCTV, and IoT sensors for traffic and parking management. This sandbox environment will allow for the evaluation of these use cases, with the potential for expansion if successful.
The work was contracted in October 2024, and installation is expected to run until the end of January 2025. After the installation is complete, and the lighting columns up and running, we will enter into a contract with Ember Networks – this is expected to be around March 2025. They will provide match funding for the project and oversee the operation of the Wi-Fi corridor for one year. Ember Networks’ managed service will include a dedicated portal, allowing us to monitor and evaluate the success of various use cases.
If successful, the connected corridor could be extended to cover additional strategic routes across Oxford and in market towns, contributing to the vision of a Smart County.
Read more about Signify here