Lighting in Design Q2 2022

Connected thinking: Wi-Fi through urban lighting

We live in the age of the internet. Constant connection is the new normal: we work, shop and sometimes even fall in love online. Smart technology can empower and connect communities, improving offline life.

S mart technology encompasses a wide range of concepts, fromkeeping residents informed about services via their smartphones, to providing charging points for electric vehicles. That’s just the start of how WiFi and other technologies connect cities: they also drive innovation, connect businesses and customers, and help make cities #selfieready. But did you know that street lighting can now play a vital role in providing connectivity? Schréder created the Shuffle to be much more than an energy-efficient lighting system. It provides a reliable and secure infrastructure for WiFi, meaning sufficient bandwidth is available for a perfect surfing experience 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It can also be used to deploy small cell 4G or 5G in partnership with telecoms operators. Or both! Up to five modules can be placed in each Shuffle pole, so the only limit is your city’s ambitions. Whatever options you choose will foster a more vibrant community by connecting citizens, businesses and visitors. Boosting local economies: How a roman city gives 5 000 tourists free WiFi A case in point is Trier, Germany’s oldest city. The

diverse needs of the population make a clear use case for free WiFi: there are 20 000 students, two million tourists every year and, as across much of Europe, a small part of the population who do not have access to the internet at home. Free WiFi helps this last group bridge the digital divide. It’s accessible to everyone: Trier provides free WiFi on all bus routes, which has also made public transport more attractive – you can’t do online shopping, chat to friends or finish an essay while driving! In the area around Hauptmarkt, the main market square, all residents and visitors can connect, for free, for an hour each day. On average more than 5 000 people take advantage of this service daily, with notable spikes when tourists arrive. Residents can have up to four hours free if they download the city app. No tracking is carried out on the app in compliance with GDPR regulations, avoiding a headache for authorities. For the tourists, a free internet connection avoids hefty internet roaming charges, leaving them free to share #content about their visit, stay longer, and in turn, boost the local economy. And there’s another advantage for cities who want to preserve their heritage: as the WiFi access points are integrated in Shuffle columns located

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LiD Q2 - 2022