A new pilot program aims to transform lighting infrastructure into high-speed wireless communication hubs. US Ignite, in partnership with Signify, has announced the Brightening Smart Communities with Innovation initiative, which invites U.S. communities to apply for a limited trial of Signify’s BrightSites platform.
The technology augments existing streetlights to act as network nodes, allowing for the delivery of gigabit-speed wireless connectivity and enabling smart city applications without trenching or laying fiber. According to Signify, the approach reduces deployment costs by as much as 80% and significantly cuts infrastructure-related carbon emissions.
Kristene Canady, Signify BrightSites’ vice president of Business Development, said the solution is redefining urban infrastructure.
“By turning existing streetlights into ultra-fast, gigabit-speed digital hubs, cities can now bridge the digital divide, enhance public safety, and accelerate smart city innovation without the disruption and cost of fiber trenching,” said Canady in a press release. “This pilot launch marks a new era of connectivity, where every light pole becomes a gateway to opportunity.”
Communities accepted into the program will receive BrightSites equipment and a co-designed program that focuses on specific local challenges, like expanding internet access and enhancing transportation systems.
Applications for the pilot program are due by May 16, 2025, and planning meetings are expected to begin in June. Fort Lauderdale, Florida, selected in an earlier phase of the program, is expected to begin its pilot later this summer.
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Hayden Beeson
Hayden Beeson is a writer and editor with over seven years of experience in a variety of industries. Prior to joining Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, he was the associate editor of Architectural SSL and LEDs Magazine.