The Conservative Government Department for Science Innovation and Technology have chosen Kingston for a £250m state-of-the-art investment in Smart Lamppost Tech, only one of 6 in the whole country to receive its Smart Infrastructure Pilots programme for 2024.
The new smart lamppost will trial mobile phone coverage, electric vehicle charging, high res CCTV coverage and internet. They will be capable of managing services such as monitoring footfall and air quality but not traffic. The CCTV cameras will be linked to the local police and offer unprecedented quality pictures to manage crime and to be used in court for convictions.
Helen Edward, Parliamentary Candidate for Kingston and Surbiton said,
" I am delighted that we have been able to secure this fantastic grant from the Department of Science Innovation and Technology to benefit residents, businesses and visitors and keep us safer. One of my key campaigns is around the safety of women and girls and I am delighted that this is another step forward on this agenda. "
The winning bids were announced at a digital industry event, Connected Britain, on 20 September.
Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure Sir John Whittingdale said:
“The way we stay in touch, access information and do business is underpinned by digital connectivity - and a world-class wireless infrastructure will be the foundation for the jobs, skills, and services of the future.
“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, which is exactly what these pilots are about.
“They will help demonstrate how advanced wireless technology can enable areas to innovate and deliver better public services, from rolling out electric vehicle chargers to boosting business growth and helping keep our streets safe.”
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/smart-tech-to-be-trialled-in-towns-a…
