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'Smart benches' with free wifi & USB chargers coming to Southwark

London SE1 website team

The streets of north Southwark could soon be adorned by 'smart benches' which offer a lot more than just a place to sit.

'Smart benches' with free wifi & USB chargers coming to Southwark
Photo by Tim McSweeney

The first ten Strawberry Smart Benches have already appeared in Islington and Lewisham, and the company plans to have 100 across London by the end of the year.

The solar-powered benches offer free wifi, USB charging ports for mobile phones and sensors which record weather and environmental information.

Now Southwark Council has received a number of applications for street furniture licences for the installation of smart benches.

Locations chosen include Flat Iron Square, Borough Road and The Cut.

Strawberry Energy did not respond to a request to confirm that it was the applicant for the Southwark smart bench licences.

Recently BT announced plans to replace many phone boxes in Southwark with new LinkUK kiosks offering wifi and USB chargers.

http://smartbench.london

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