The expensive part of traditional town centre CCTV is not the cameras – it is getting the pictures back. Fibre, trenching, new poles and line rentals can cost more than the cameras themselves. We do it wirelessly instead.

1) How it works

Small wireless units are fitted high up on lighting columns or buildings with a clear line of sight to each other, forming a private network across the town. Cameras connect to the nearest unit. Video travels back to your recorder or control room in full HD with no loss of quality, however far the camera is from the office.

2) What that means for a council

• No trenching or road closures, so no highways disruption and far lower civil costs.
• No BT line rentals or fibre leases – the network belongs to the council.
• Installed in days rather than months.
• Easy to extend: adding a camera means adding a small unit, not digging a trench.

3) Is it secure and reliable?

Yes. The links are encrypted and we use equipment from leading wireless manufacturers, not consumer Wi-Fi. Councils have run these networks for years without the picture quality problems people sometimes expect from wireless.

4) Permissions

Cameras on council-owned lighting columns generally need only the council's own agreement. Where a building or a listed structure is involved we help with the owner's consent and any planning permission; in our experience this rarely holds a project up.

5) Common questions

5.1) What does a camera need at the column?

Just a 240V supply, which the lighting column already has. Each camera uses roughly 8 watts – about the same as a low-energy bulb.

5.2) Will it work in a rural town with buildings in the way?

Line of sight is the main requirement, and a town centre nearly always has a high point we can use. We check this on the free site visit before promising anything.

Considering CCTV for your town? Call 01242 675516 or request free guidance – no obligation.