In the digital age, innovation happens quickly and on many fronts. City governments have been some of the biggest agents of this innovation, and the city of Los Angeles is a leader among them.


In November, the city announced a new project that showcases multiple forms of technological innovation integrated into one practical and ubiquitous device. The city will be installing 100 SmartPole streetlights that integrate LED lighting and 4G wireless connectivity.


The pole designs are the result of a collaboration between two major manufacturers in their respective fields. The SmartPoles are a trademark product of the lighting manufacturer, Philips. They feature connected LED lighting that will help the city illuminate its streets more efficiently. The poles are also outfitted with small cell technology from telecom manufacturer Ericsson.


The integrated technology in the poles will benefit the city in many ways. According to Philips, the LEDs will save the city up to 70 percent on energy costs, plus additional savings on maintenance. High-quality lighting will also improve safety in neighborhoods and reduce traffic accidents on city streets.


Amy Huntington, president of Philips Lighting America, emphasized another benefit, describing the LEDs “as the backbone in an outdoor Internet of Things platform.” 


The connected lights allow the city to maintain and control lighting remotely through a central software program.


Wireless connectivity also enables the city to expand its broadband network without erecting more cell towers. According to Ericsson, cellular data traffic is expected to grow nine times by 2020. Adding more broadband capacity is both a technical and geographic challenge for carriers and municipal governments that want their residents to be connected without cluttering the urban landscape. The SmartPoles help the city respond to this challenge by, in the words of L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, “taking advantage of previously untapped real estate to give our streets better broadband connectivity and future-ready infrastructure.”