SLOUGH is set to become what is claimed to be the world's first fully functional, ultra-intelligent city, with the launch of innovative wireless technology across the town.

The town has become the focus of Angie Communications, a Dutch firm now also based in London, which plans to launch 5G-primed fibre-fed wireless networks enabling a whole new approach to the way the town is run, how residents travel, and how both assisted living and remote patients are supported.

This new technology would mean real time information available on public transport, parking and traffic congestion. It could see remote monitoring and assistance for those in elderly or mental care. And it could make remote monitoring of homes or businesses a very accessible possibility.

Slough became the first town to show its support for the Wireless Gigabit and Smart City technology infrastructure on Friday, June 24, and although Angie Communications will finance the entire project, Slough Borough Council will be providing support in other ways.

Nick Vat, digital transformation manager for Slough Borough Council, said: “This is incredibly exciting news for Slough.

“This will enable Slough to become the first wireless gigabit city in the world and a truly smart city - a hotbed of opportunity where citizens and businesses can harness cutting edge technology for a vast number of uses.

“The council will be leading the way. We are already looking at ways we can use digital technology to provide better, more efficient services, whether that’s waste collection, healthcare or traffic management. The possibilities are endless."

He added: “Slough is already one of the most physically well connected business locations in the world and so it seems only right that we’re about to become the most well connected digitally.”

Angie Communications, which describes itself as the world's largest telecom start-up, plans to launch the network by November this year. Once it is live residents will pay £30 a month for a wireless Gigabit connection they can use all across Slough - something the company has described as a "cheap" deal.

A spokesman for Angie Communications said: "As they say, failure is no option. Just like building a 4G mobile network equals to a guarantee to attract a certain number of customer, in the same way building this ultra-high-speed network and smart city infrastructure guarantees that people will start using it.

"It’s like building a bridge where you know in advance that it will make life easier for people and businesses to start using."