Today, with so much being done digitally and remotely, affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet access is a paramount need for all citizens. Regrettably, more than half of all Americans with broadband access receive substandard service, while around 25% have no access at all. This lack of digital equity means that one in five teens can’t regularly complete homework assignments, and many families don’t have enough connectivity to share among everyone who needs it.
Connected lighting systems are the quickest and most cost-effective investment to deliver public broadband and Wi-Fi access to underserved communities at significantly lower cost. Connected street lighting infrastructures provide the distributed real estate, power, and connectivity to solve the “last mile” challenge, ensuring adequate broadband access for more and more Americans.