Lamppost Internet Trial

January 2006

Lampposts providing high-speed internet access are set to go on trial in Dundee later this month.

Backers of the project are to trial six of the solar-powered, internet-capable lights on a rooftop at the University of Abertay, with a plan to install up to 4,000 more later this year in a student village to be built for the university. Students from the University's Centre for the Environment (ACE) will play a hands-on role in shaping the technology with the centre being involved in testing the technology and assessing its social, environmental and economic impact.

The idea will combine lampposts with solar energy and wireless internet access. The lamppost will use light-emitting diode (LED) technology to provide bright light using low power derived from solar cells, which use daylight to recharge even in overcast weather.

The company running the scheme, Compliance Technology (CTL), said interest had already been shown by a number of councils in Scotland. The firm claims the idea will have massive potential for local authorities, which could turn their lighting systems into revenue earners using the "smart" lampposts to provide street light while selling internet access to local residents

CTL, with a Scottish arm based in Kirkcaldy, has European distribution rights for the Singapore-based "StarSight" technology.

According to CTL, there is only a fraction of the installation and running costs of conventional street lights.