South Africa’s infrastructure is in the process of significant change and upgrades. All around the country, road and water works are ongoing as local and provincial governments undertake multiple projects to improve the quality of life for their citizens.
In the midst of all the major infrastructure upgrades happening around the country, government has not forgotten the role public lighting plays in an improved quality of life for all. Not only does public lighting contribute to a safe and comfortable environment for vehicles and pedestrians during the night, but its potential to save municipalities money has recently been realised.A rapidly growing market
There are currently 281.4 million street lights in the world, according to a report by northeast group llc – a Washington-based consulting firm with expertise in the smart infrastructure and smart grid sectors. The firm recently released a Global LED and Smart Street Lighting: Market Forecast (2014–2025) which states that this number will grow to 339.9 million by 2025. The street light market is currently undergoing a period of change, where legacy street lights are being replaced with new and more efficient LED or solid-state lighting technology.The South African government has taken the global queue and successfully begun the transition to LED public lighting.
Throughout the country, local and provincial government departments are rolling out public lighting projects to update the current technology and light up previously unlit areas. The Western Cape government, in particular, has been very successful in this regard.
