Soweto Street Lights Go High Tech As Joburg Rolls Out Smart Poles With Free WiFi

A simple street light in Soweto is now doing far more than lighting the road.

The City of Johannesburg has begun rolling out a new digital infrastructure project known as Smart Poles, turning ordinary street lights into technology hubs that provide free public WiFi, security features and improved lighting for residents.

The first set of Smart Poles has already been installed and activated along Mpumelelo Street in Slovo Park, marking the start of what city officials hope will become a wider digital transformation across Johannesburg.

For many residents, the initiative could bring faster internet access and better public safety right outside their front doors.

What The Smart Poles Can Do

Unlike traditional street lights, the Smart Poles combine multiple technologies in one structure.

Each pole provides high-speed 4G and 5G connectivity, allowing residents to access free public WiFi in surrounding areas. This can help people connect to online services, communicate with family, or access digital resources without needing expensive mobile data.

The poles also include LED smart lighting, which improves visibility at night and helps reduce energy consumption.

Beyond connectivity and lighting, the infrastructure includes CCTV surveillance cameras and an emergency panic button that connects directly to response teams. The goal is to strengthen security in public spaces while improving everyday infrastructure.

City officials say the poles are also designed with the future in mind. They could eventually support additional smart-city tools such as environmental monitoring sensors and other Internet of Things technologies.

A Step Toward A Smarter Johannesburg

Johannesburg MMC for Transport Kenny Kunene said the initiative is intended to ensure communities benefit from modern digital services.

According to Kunene, residents will see improvements in night-time visibility, safety measures and access to online government services through the new infrastructure.

The project forms part of the city’s broader effort to modernise urban services while addressing the digital divide that still affects many communities.

In South Africa, reliable internet access remains uneven, particularly in lower-income areas. Projects like this aim to make connectivity more accessible without requiring residents to pay for costly data bundles.

First Phase Of A Bigger Plan

The rollout is being implemented by the City’s Metropolitan Tech Company (MTC), which is responsible for Johannesburg’s digital infrastructure strategy.

MTC CEO Thedi Moropa described the Smart Pole installation as a key milestone in the city’s journey toward becoming a fully connected smart city.

If the initial phase proves successful, the technology could be expanded to other neighbourhoods across Johannesburg.

For now, the focus remains on Soweto, where the first installations are already active and providing services to the surrounding community.

Launch Event Details

Residents interested in learning more about the project have been invited to attend the official launch event.

When: Saturday, 7 March 2026
Time: 10:00 – 13:00
Where: 24 Cavendish Street, Nancefield

As Johannesburg continues exploring new ways to combine infrastructure with digital services, the Smart Pole project may offer a glimpse of how everyday city spaces could evolve in the years ahead.

{Source:The South African}

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