What is Smart Street Lighting?
Smart street lighting, also known as intelligent street lighting, is a dynamic street lighting technology that adapts to motion, time of day, weather, and other factors with the help of sensors and other software configuration.
There are many potential benefits of smart street lighting such as reduced power consumption, cost of installation and maintenance and more. Smart street lights can also serve as existing infrastructure that can support deployment of lightweight 5G wireless network base-stations, and other integrated technology.
What is 5G?
5G technology is the latest generation mobile network that is being deployed in developed and developing countries across the world. Telecom operators in the United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan and India are working to increase 5G connectivity.
There are many benefits that 5G technology offers for consumers, telecom operators and businesses. High-speed internet, lower latency, reduced battery consumption, allowing devices towork smoother and faster by offloading heavy computational processing to the cloud and a lot more. Businesses can deliver new and better services to the consumer with the help of 5G technology, and telecom operators too can benefit by employing network slicing, deploying lighter and cheaper base stations for better connectivity etc.
Overall, 5G presents great potential for all parties, and could greatly alleviate many problems while at the same time boosting innovation and technological advancements too.
Many countries have already begun experimentation with smart streetlights with network antennasand have reported some very positive results. It is therefore being considered a viable option by many telecom operators as efforts to boost the expansion of 5G connectivity intensifies.
How can 5G technology and smart street lighting work together?
The integrated union of 5G technology and smart street lighting can help telecom operators build a cost-effective wireless network of infrastructure that is consistently distributed across populated regions in cities and towns. This innovative collaboration of two services from different generations can be carried out with the help of 5G small cells deployed through smart street lights.
5G small cells are short-range base stations with low-power capacity that can be deployed without much hassle, time, cost, or required space. They have a range that can stretch up to a few kilometres and need little power to operate. Thelittle space they require for deployment is another advantage as it does not feel invasive. Furthermore, this makes it possible for telecom operators to consider smart street lights as a viable mode of infrastructure to deploy their urban 5G network.
What benefits does 5G in smart street lighting offer to consumers?
A more reliable network of smart streetlights with LED fixtures that offer better network reception and internet connectivity are exceptional advantages for the consumers. 5G in smart street lighting can considerably improve road safety for both pedestrians and motorists alike by helping avert automobile accidents and mishaps.
Smart streetlights can also go a long way in the creation of smart cities as streetlights are one of the many components of public infrastructure that are evenly spread across cities and towns.
Sensors on smart streetlights can help provide citizens with a highly accurate real-time updates regarding traffic patterns, maintenance work, accidents and more.
Controlling light pollution with the help of smart streetlights that activate by sensing motion to brighten or dim the lights as needed can be beneficial for citizens too.
What benefits does 5G in smart street lighting offer to telecom operators?
As mentioned above, deploying smart streetlights integrated with 5G small cells saves a considerable amount of time, cost, and many other issues for telecom operators. It also gives them an existing infrastructure in urban settings that can be upgraded and used to deploy wider 5G connectivity to their consumers.
Smart streetlights also offer more control over the usage by allowing motion sensors to control the brightness which in turn can help reduce power consumption, carbon emissions and light pollution too. This also increases the lamp life by reducing the lamp burning time, better analytical data, and control over the tracking of faulty smart streetlights and the ability to offer prompt response to any issues.
Other avenues for benefit in this regard include a potential for partnership between private companies and government organizations and companies that can also help bring down costs for both parties including installation, maintenance, and other ancillary costs.
Another advantage of deploying 5G small cells integrated with smart streetlights in densely populated urban areas is the non-invasive appearance and nature of the technology. It blends seamlessly into the surroundings without the requirement of any heavy equipment.
Are there any disadvantages of 5G in smart street lighting?
As with any new technology, there definitely are some disadvantages of 5G in smart street lighting that may require contingencies, or even prevent cities from giving the green light to the process. Here are some things that could negatively impact the implementation of smart street lights with 5G small cells-
Fixing and repairing any faulty equipment and machinery is complex, and requires expert technicians with special training, resources and parts that can be expensive.
The cost of installation for these new age smart street slights integrated with 5G small cells can be quite high. Considerably higher investments do not always evoke enthusiasm and could prohibit the large-scale adoption of this technology.
High potential for damage due to environmental factors coupled with the extremely high costs of installation and repair are another major disadvantage.
As the smart streetlights will be operating on software, they may become prone to unscrupulous activities such as hacking. Public infrastructure being prone to hacking is not something that would make officials very keen to adopt this new technology.
There are many other hypothetical and preventable issues that could be attributed to as disadvantages of integrating 5G in smart street lights. However, as with any new technological advancement, the gradual improvements and solutions to the problems can be found. Smart street lights with 5G small cells are definitely a viable collaboration that will definitely be more widely seen around us in the next few years.