The Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames has rolled out a smart infrastructure pilot to provide stronger wireless connectivity across the borough.
It has been working with Boldyn Networks on the project and has now been awarded £250,000 to support further work as part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s (DSIT) Smart Infrastructure Pilots programme.
The project involves the deployment of smart columns, designed by Boldyn, which host small cells to boost mobile connectivity and the quality of images from CCTV cameras to support council services and public safety.
Kingston is deploying the technology at around 20 CCTV sites, with the potential to add internet of things (IoT) sensors for purposes such as monitoring air quality and footfall. It is not planning to use the cameras for traffic purposes.
The project also involves Boldyn Networks installing a 10.4km fibre ring across the borough to support the connectivity of the columns.
The pilot is one of those to be announced as winning bids under the DSIT programme this week. They are aimed at supporting the delivery of the Government’s UK Wireless Infrastructure Strategy.
Boldyn Networks said the Kingston pilot complements its work with Transport for London to improve mobile connectivity across the city.
