The Smart Infrastructure Pilots Programme (“SIPP”) was a £1.5 million programme aimed at supporting local authorities to procure and test “smart” multipurpose columns for mobile and wireless connectivity services, and other uses such as CCTV and environmental monitoring sensors, which will help them make efficiency savings and increase connectivity for their local communities.
The programme launched in June 2023 and closed August 2025. Six local authority-led projects were funded as part of the programme. As a Shared Outcomes Fund project, funding was matched by smart service providers working with the participating local authorities.
SIPP built upon the learnings of the Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Accelerator programme which developed new Publicly Available Standards (PAS) to help local authorities assess what type of multipurpose columns could best support their smart infrastructure requirements. SIPP focused on applying the PAS 191 standard for multifunctional columns to the procurement of smart multipurpose columns by local authorities.
PAS 191 multipurpose columns were successfully deployed in all 6 pilot project areas. Equipment to support a range of services was installed on the multipurpose columns, including 4G, /5G and Wi-Fi, CCTV cameras, air quality sensors, traffic monitoring sensors, advertising screens and audio speakers.
The programme demonstrated that the installation of PAS 191 multipurpose columns would be the preferred option for street furniture (for example, instead of installing a new, or replacing, a standard lamppost) in strategic locations where multiple services are required and there is demand for connectivity services.
The project outcome reports are linked below, which provide details on the projects’ approach to delivery and procurement, costs and lessons learned. A full programme evaluation will also be published in due course.
Documents
See below the list of project outcome reports. Local authorities should use these as guidance when looking to deploy PAS 191 multipurpose columns.
