What is LaaS? The New Model Making Streetlight Intelligence More Accessible

Cities and utilities around the world are searching for ways to modernize infrastructure without stretching their budgets. Ubicquia’s Lighting-as-a-Service (LaaS) model is designed to provide cities with all the benefits of smart lighting controls -- without the upfront costs.

What is LaaS?

Ubicquia’s Lighting-as-a-Service (LaaS) model is a turnkey solution that enables cities and utilities to install and manage smart streetlighting with zero upfront equipment costs.

Instead of investing large amounts of capital, municipalities can now deploy the latest UbiCell smart lighting technology through a subscription-based model that pays for itself in operational savings.

This disruptive approach removes the financial barriers to more intelligent, efficient lighting and makes it easier for cities of all sizes to access smart city technology.

Why Choose LaaS?

Whether you have seen the benefits of smart lighting on a smaller scale and are seeking to expand across your entire lighting network or are just getting started in the transition to smart lighting, LaaS offers cost saving advantages.

1. Maintenance Cost Savings Up to 70%

Traditional lighting systems require regular inspections and costly maintenance schedules. Ubicquia's smart controls enable real-time monitoring, which helps identify and address issues like outages or faults immediately. This not only reduces the need for routine inspections but also extends the lifespan of each light, further lowering maintenance costs.

2. Turnkey Operations, Monitoring, and Management

Ubicquia offers comprehensive monitoring and management services, ensuring that lighting systems are continually optimized for performance and efficiency. This not only reduces energy costs and helps cities achieve goals like Dark Skies, but also allows streetlight managers to focus on core operations instead of the burden (and expense) of routine lighting upkeep.

3. Zero Upfront Costs

Traditionally, upgrading streetlights to smart lighting requires a substantial upfront investment. With Ubicquia's LaaS, cities no longer need to worry about budget constraints as they can integrate energy-saving smart lighting at zero down. This makes it easier for streetlight operators to see savings immediately without dipping into capital reserves.

Removing Financial Barriers and Drive Impact

Ubicquia’s LaaS model removes the financial and operational barriers typically associated with upgrading streetlighting. With a subscription-based approach, streetlight operators can seamlessly transition to energy-efficient, smart lighting that grows with their needs. And they can pay for the added intelligence in the savings they’ll see. Ubicquia’s smart lighting customers like Memphis Light Gas and Water have cut their truck rolls in half.

Another large city has seen a 60% reduction in their O&M costs, while another is on target to generate $200 million in energy and O&M savings on their project. Very few smart city technologies have this clear a payback.

Two Plans Designed to Meet Streetlight Operators Where They Are

LaaS offers two service levels, allowing streetlight operators to select a solution that best aligns with their needs:

• Standard Plan: Ideal for cities looking for core smart lighting functionality, including:
  • 24/7 monitoring for real-time visibility of lighting infrastructure
  • Advanced light controls to optimize energy usage
  • Smart notifications to alert city managers of key events, such as power loss or performance issues
  • Essential analytics to track and manage energy efficiency and asset performance
• Premium Plan: For those needing a more comprehensive solution, the Premium plan includes everything in the Standard plan, along with:
  • AI-driven analytics to predict and prevent potential issues
  • Predictive maintenance insights to streamline repairs and reduce downtime
  • Energy-saving recommendations tailored to optimize each lighting node
  • Enhanced security features, such as theft alerts and storm restoration reports
  • Dedicated technical support and automated work order creation to ease maintenance operations

Ubicquia’s Lighting-as-a-Service isn’t just about providing smart lighting—it’s about making smart lighting accessible for cities and utilities of all sizes. By removing the need for upfront investment and simplifying maintenance, Ubicquia’s LaaS model makes it possible for municipalities and utilities to benefit from advanced lighting technology immediately. As more organizations adopt this approach, we’ll see our urban landscapes transformed into safer, more sustainable, and efficient environments.

For more information on how Ubicquia can help make your city smarter and more efficient, visit Ubicquia’s website or reach out to their team at info@ubicquia.com.