United Kingdom Smart Pole Market Overview, 2031

Market Insights on United Kingdom Smart Pole Market

• The United Kingdom's smart pole market has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past five years, evolving from isolated pilot projects into a coordinated national infrastructure priority. According to the research report, "United Kingdom Smart Poles Market Overview, 2031," published by Bonafide Research, the United Kingdom Smart Poles market is anticipated to add USD 1.76 Billion by 2026–31.The sector is propelled by a powerful convergence of government ambition and municipal action. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology's (DSIT) Smart Infrastructure Pilots Programme (SIPP), a £1.5 million initiative, sought to support local authorities in procuring and testing smart multi-purpose columns for mobile and wireless connectivity services.
• The programme built upon the Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Accelerator (DCIA), which developed new Publicly Available Standards (PAS 191) concerning the design and procurement of smart multi-purpose columns. Six areas across the UK received funding through SIPP, including Oxfordshire County Council (£250,000), Tees Valley Combined Authority (£202,500), Westminster City Council (£165,000), and Cambridgeshire County Council (£220,000).
• Oxford has become the first UK city to roll out a new wireless infrastructure model that turns existing street lighting into multi-operator connectivity hubs, with BrightSites by Signify partnering with Cornerstone and Dense Air to support 4G, 5G, and IoT connectivity. The Lighting Live Annual Conference 2025, held in Glasgow on 18-19 June, brought together industry professionals to address these challenges, with CU Phosco's National Accounts Manager Ben Hiscott presenting "Lessons Learned from Deploying Smart Poles".

Competitive Landscape of United Kingdom Smart Pole Market

• A dynamic and competitive ecosystem characterizes the United Kingdom's smart pole market, blending global lighting giants with specialized technology innovators. Leading participants include Signify N.V., CU Phosco, Telensa, and Siemens AG, alongside connectivity specialists like Cornerstone, Dense Air, On Tower, Ontix, and Freshwave.
• BrightSites by Signify has emerged as a key player, with its platform designed to be Layer 2 agnostic and integrate with any IEEE-compliant data layer, allowing cities to monetize their infrastructure by making it available for internal and external customers.
• Suffolk Council has joined the growing list of UK regions adopting PowerAID™, an AI-powered streetlighting platform delivering real-world savings without costly upgrades, with deployments at Rougham Tower Avenue and Horringer Road already achieving energy savings of 47.34% and 48.94% respectively.
• Liverpool City Council allocated £1.5 million for a major lighting upgrade around Bramley Moore Dock, installing modern LED lighting columns connected to a Central Management System (CMS) that allows for remote monitoring and dimming to save energy during low-traffic periods.
• Hartlepool Development Corporation is rolling out pioneering 8-metre smart columns at six locations between Hartlepool Railway Station and the Marina, incorporating electronic screens, smart street lighting, environmental monitors, traffic counters, audio speakers, and 4G/5G enabled small cells.
• In March 2024, Virgin Media O2 effectively tested a novel approach to enhancing and growing mobile services by integrating new smart poles with its fixed network infrastructure, which may contribute to increased mobile coverage in local communities around the United Kingdom. Alongside the operator's current national fiber network cabinets, smart poles have been erected as part of the innovation trial, which was carried out in partnership with shareholder Liberty Global.
• The value chain is shifting toward integrated solutions and AI-driven analytics, with entry barriers remaining substantial due to the technical complexity of retrofitting legacy power line control circuits and the need for compliance with PAS 191 standards. The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames has entered into open access agreements with small cell device suppliers to expand 4G and 5G networks throughout the borough at no additional cost to the Council.

United Kingdom Market Dynamics

Driver: Government-Backed Infrastructure Programmes
DSIT's Smart Infrastructure Pilots Programme (SIPP), a £1.5 million initiative, has catalysed smart pole deployment across six UK authorities. Combined with local authority matching investment totaling £2.7 million, the programme has unlocked over £4 million in total investment. The development of PAS 191 standards has provided local authorities with a clear framework for procuring smart multi-purpose columns, accelerating municipal adoption and creating a replicable model for nationwide deployment.

Challenge: Retrofitting Legacy Infrastructure
Adapting existing power line control circuits and managing new network operations presents significant technical challenges. The complexity of integrating smart technology with aging streetlight stock increases project costs and extends timelines. The Smart Street Infrastructure Security Report highlighted that the presence of multiple connectivity technologies on lighting columns may increase security risks, adding another layer of complexity for local authorities navigating both technical and regulatory hurdles.



Trend: AI-Powered Energy Optimisation
Artificial intelligence is transforming UK smart poles from passive lighting into active energy management assets. Suffolk Council's adoption of Felicity's PowerAID platform has demonstrated real-world energy savings of 47.34% and 48.94% at pilot locations. The AI-powered streetlighting platform delivers measurable public value with zero capital expenditure, optimising safety through real-time responsive dimming while reducing emissions from day one.

Segment Analysis

United Kingdom Smart Pole Software Market by Component
• Hardware forms the physical foundation of UK smart pole infrastructure, encompassing durable LED lighting lamps, pole brackets, communication devices, and controllers. Liverpool's £1.5 million waterfront upgrade includes modern LED lighting columns connected to a Central Management System. Hartlepool's 8-metre smart columns incorporate electronic screens, environmental monitors, and traffic counters.
• Software platforms are rapidly emerging as the strategic differentiator, enabling centralized management, real-time monitoring, and predictive maintenance. Suffolk Council's PowerAID™ platform delivers AI-powered streetlighting management with real-world energy savings. The BrightSites platform integrates with existing application environments, connecting to fibre networks, sensors, and IoT platforms.
• The service segment encompasses installation, maintenance, data analytics, and cybersecurity management. London Borough of Richmond upon Thames has entered open access agreements with suppliers like On Tower, Ontix, and Freshwave to expand 4G and 5G networks at no cost to the Council. Hartlepool's smart columns feed traffic data into the existing Urban Traffic Management System.

United Kingdom Smart Pole Software Market by Installation Type
• New installations are deployed in greenfield developments, major infrastructure projects, and urban renewal zones. Hartlepool's six smart columns between the Railway Station and Marina represent new deployment, with planning approval granted for five columns in the Development Corporation area. Oxford's BrightSites deployment turns existing street lighting into connectivity hubs.
• Retrofit installations offer cost-effective pathways to smart pole adoption, converting existing streetlight infrastructure without new foundations. The BrightSites platform is designed to retrofit legacy lighting infrastructure, adapting existing power line control circuits. Suffolk Council's PowerAID™ deployment requires no costly upgrades, demonstrating the viability of retrofit approaches.


United Kingdom Smart Pole Software Market by Application
• Smart transportation leads UK smart pole applications, with adaptive lighting improving safety and energy efficiency. Liverpool's waterfront upgrade addresses increased demand and changing patterns of road use associated with events at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. East Riding received £3.3 million to study more environmentally friendly ways of lighting main roads.
• Public spaces benefit from smart poles providing Wi-Fi, environmental monitoring, and digital signage. Hartlepool's smart columns feature 55" electronic display screens for council events, wayfinding directions, and transport timetables. Oxford's deployment supports environmental, economic, and social benefits for local communities.
• Industrial applications at railways and harbours leverage smart poles for logistics optimisation and security. Hartlepool's smart columns between the Railway Station and Marina integrate 4G and 5G small cells to complement waterfront connectivity projects. Teesside International Airport is introducing new smart columns as part of the regional rollout.
• Corporate campuses and parking lots deploy smart poles for security surveillance, occupancy monitoring, and EV charging. The government's smart street lamp pilot includes EV charging hubs as a key function. Blackpool's Smart Traffic Corridor scheme, funded by the Department for Transport's Green Light Fund (£567,000), uses innovative technology to improve traffic flow in high congestion areas.


Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2020
• Base year: 2025
• Estimated year: 2026
• Forecast year: 2031

Aspects covered in this report
• Smart Pole Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Component
• Hardware
• Software
• Service

By Hardware Type
• Lighting Lamp
• Pole Bracket & Pole Body
• Communication Device
• Controller
• Others

By Installation Type
• New Installation
• Retrofit Installation

By Application
• Highways and Roadways
• Public Places and Plazas
• Railways and Harbors
• Parking Lots and Campuses