By Oliver Walter, Business Development Director, Public Sector & Defence
In my role I spend a lot of time speaking with decision-makers at local authorities across the UK. If one thing is common across the sector, it’s the immense budgetary pressure.
With tight resources and increasing demands for public services, local governments are expected to maintain essential services, like street cleaning, providing housing and adult social care. On the other hand, they need to modernise operations by embracing the local authority digital transformation that residents and businesses expect. This isn’t easy an easy ask when tight finances limit the basics.
But there is good news. With a smart infrastructure and digital tools, local authorities can revolutionise the way they run, engage residents more effectively and protect services for the future. It’s about creating efficiencies, unlocking new revenue streams, and improving service delivery in ways that reduce long-term costs.
What is Essential Digital Transformation for Local Authorities?
Even if residents aren’t actively demanding digitised solutions, the reality is that, with our lives moving online, they expect seamless, efficient public services too. Transformation will improve citizen satisfaction, streamline internal processes and free up resources.
For instance, consider the potential of smart cities. While “fully integrated smart cities” are the future, the journey starts with building the right infrastructure today. Local authorities that invest in a robust digital backbone will be able to offer next-generation services like smart traffic management, IoT-enabled waste collection and real-time data analytics to check public spaces.
The efficiencies gained from such systems don’t just enhance public services – they also offer measurable cost savings by making the most of limited resources, reducing manual processes and energy consumption.
Wifinity’s Role in Supporting Local Authorities
We specialise in providing fully managed services, high-quality wireless infrastructure and digital solutions as a partner to public sector organisations. From public WiFi to complex guest and corporate networks, we offer scalable and secure connectivity. We were recognised a finalist in the 2024 Connected Britain Full Fibre ISP Innovation Award, a finalist in this year’s ISPAs Digital Inclusion award and the 2024 Glotel Connecting the Unconnected award for our delivery of projects that connect hard to reach communities or places where other managed services providers won’t.
Our work with councils shows how a well-thought-out digital strategy can drive improvements. We provide next-generation public and corporate WiFi, WAN and LAN solutions that connect public services and offer the security and flexibility that modern councils need. By partnering with hardware providers like Ruckus, Fortinet and Cambium Networks, we deliver robust, AI-powered network solutions that ensure your digital infrastructure is future-ready.
Councils can also tap into advanced data and insights that allow for better decision-making. For example, our wireless networks can provide real-time data on how and when public spaces are used, offering valuable insights for planning and service optimisation. By knowing exactly when your public spaces see the most traffic or how residents access council services online, data can guide future investments and resource allocation.
Next Steps for Local Authority Digital Transformation
The concept of an “everything integrated” smart city might seem aspirational, but it’s achievable with a technology core that connects people, services and infrastructure in a way that drives efficiency, reduces costs and improves quality of life.
Let’s consider some practical examples: IoT-enabled traffic systems that reduce congestion and improve road safety need a reliable network foundation. Smart lighting systems that adjust on real-time conditions and reduce energy consumption also need a supporting network. IoT sensors tell waste management teams when bins are full and inform more efficient collection routes also need a network. These are just a few of the ways that smart infrastructure will transform councils’ operations and save money.
Wifinity provides the high-performance infrastructure that makes these solutions possible. We design secure networks with both the council and residents in mind that allow new technologies to be seamlessly integrated as they appear.
Enhancing Security in a Hybrid Work Environment
It’s a challenge to maintain security in today’s hybrid work and cloud environments. With more local authority employees working remotely, digital infrastructures should support secure, scalable access to cloud services and sensitive data.
Our networks are built using industry compliant security features, including support for Zero Trust architectures. This approach ensures that every device and user is verified before accessing your network, regardless of where they are working from. Our cloud-based management platforms also allow for centralised control, making it easier for council IT teams to monitor and secure the network across multiple locations.
We also hold ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 27001 certifications, and we’re certified to meet Cyber Essentials Plus.
Supporting Local Development and Resource Management
Local authority digital transformation is also about driving economic development and managing assets more effectively. Wifinity has been helping councils to realise new opportunities by leveraging their digital infrastructure. Whether it’s providing connectivity for new social housing developments or integrating IoT devices for asset management, our solutions enable local authorities to better manage their resources while offering enhanced resident services.
Incorporating tools like our WiFi captive portal management software, councils can transform their public WiFi services into public service portals by using the platform for local marketing, public information and links to services like council tax and parking fine payment. This not only provides a better user experience for residents but opens new revenue streams to fund other council initiatives.
Unlocking Your Digital Transformation
Digital transformation is fundamentally about changing the way local authorities operate to better serve residents and local businesses. By building the right digital infrastructure today, councils can create smarter, more efficient services that evolve as their community does.
Wifinity is committed to helping local authorities unlock these opportunities and we’re ready to prepare your council is ready for the future.
To start the conversation, contact oliver.walter@wifinity.co.uk