Slough: Angie Networks to deliver wireless gigabit connectivity and Smart City services

Angie Networks, part of Angie Communications, has signed an agreement with Slough Borough Council CEO, Ruth Bagley, to deliver one gigabit wireless connectivity and smart city solutions to Slough residents and businesses.

“Angie is working closely with Slough to bring cutting edge technology to Slough and its surrounding area. Slough is strategically placed as a leading business hub here in the UK,” said Bob Snowden, Angie Networks’ CEO, “We are working with Slough and partners to bring the latest smart city technology to the area. Angie will finance the entire project, ensuring that Slough will have all the benefits and none of the financial or operational risks. Slough got the best deal possible for its residents and businesses.”

Angie has signed a deal with Colt and Zayo, two of the largest fibre and communications operators in the United Kingdom, to build fibre infrastructure to provide Slough neighbourhoods with high-speed broadband, using their existing infrastructure. The connectivity for the last hundred feet and into homes and business will be done through wireless technology, using outdoor wireless access points. Angie claims that the wireless network will be “beyond 5G-ready”.

Slough residents will be able to use a wireless gigabit connection throughout the city for a cost of £30 per month, through a service delivered by Angie under its Wireless Extreme brand.

“We will bring fibre to locations in Slough where it would have been uneconomical or expensive for the council; it is part of our commitment to the people of Slough. This way, everybody wins: residents, businesses, Slough Borough council, and Angie and its partners,” said Neal Lachman, Group CEO of Angie Communications International, “With the likes of Zayo and Colt and several others already or coming on board as partners, we plan to emulate the Slough models, principles and modus operandi worldwide.”

Angie and its partners will develop build, maintain and operate all infrastructure and communications means for Slough’s smart city solutions, from end to end. These will deliver intelligent energy, lighting, transport, refuse and water services, together with assisted living solutions to monitor residents’ health and reduce the pressure on the NHS.

In addition to Angie and the Borough of Slough, approved third partners will be able to provide services using the Smart City network, which will make use of Zigbee connected sensors, together with Wi-Fi, GSM, LTE/LTA and other wireless technologies.

As well as the optical fibre transmission network, Angie will utilise Software-Defined Networking (SDN), point to point microwave, mesh backhaul and millimetre wave technologies, according to a company presentation. Angie networks is currently in talks with several city councils in the UK.