South Essex Broadband boost complete

A state-of-the-art broadband link has been completed between Brentwood and Basildon

We’re working in partnership with South Essex local authorities to create a fibre route that addresses poor connectivity in rural areas within the Lower Thames Crossing corridor, including South Ockendon, Bulphan, West Horndon, and Great Warley.

With funding from National Highways Lower Thames Crossing, a state-of-the-art broadband link has been completed between Brentwood and Basildon. This is a significant step towards the Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA) goal of achieving full fibre coverage across South Essex by 2025. 

In 2022, we awarded funding for around 10 kilometres of high-speed broadband infrastructure, connecting Brentwood to ASELA's existing full fibre network. This now links 44 sites across South Essex.

The aim is to provide free access to this network, enabling it to reach community venues, cafes, schools, and colleges. The infrastructure will also support IoT LoRaWAN (Internet of Things Long Range Wide Area Network), which will provide outdoor coverage across South Essex. This technology will improve local services such as traffic systems, air quality assessments, and flood prevention. It will also enhance connectivity between public and community sites, saving money and improving services for local people.

The delivery of IoT LoRaWAN will attract significant investment to the region, providing a digital platform that: 

  • Collects data on air quality, traffic, utility usage, and building management using council-owned sensors.
  • Shares data with public bodies, schools, and universities to improve policies, support coding projects, and teach digital skills.
  • Helps local businesses test new ideas and grow.
  • Works with National Highways and other government bodies to improve traffic monitoring and management.
  • Boosts local economies and attracts future 5G investment. 

Uses of IoT LoRaWAN

IoT LoRaWAN allows smart devices to send small amounts of data over long distances with little power. It’s used in smart cities for street lighting and waste management, in farming to track soil and animals, in logistics to monitor goods, and for remote meter reading and security. Its key benefits are long-range, low power consumption (allowing devices to last years on a small battery), and low cost—ideal for sensors that don’t need constant data but must work reliably.

For South Essex, it will be used for: 

  • Affordable Air Quality Monitoring: 
    Replacing expensive SIM cards in 50–60 air quality monitoring sites (like Castle Point, Canvey Island, and Benfleet) will lead to significant savings, which can be reinvested. 

  • Bat Monitoring: 
    IoT LoRaWAN will help track bat movements and environmental conditions, supporting conservation efforts by providing long-range, low-power sensors for research. 

  • National Highways Collaboration: 
    LoRaWAN sensors on the QE2 Bridge help detect blocked gullies and flood risks, improving response times to potential hazards. 

  • Road Temperature Monitoring: 
    Sensors will monitor road temperatures, improving road safety management. 

  • Indoor and Outdoor Coverage: 
    The network provides reliable coverage both outdoors and inside buildings, expanding sensor placement possibilities. 

  • Collaborative Innovation: 
    Free and open access to the network allows public sector bodies and local businesses to share data and develop new solutions. 

  • Strategic and Economic Impact: 
    The network promotes innovation and offers a testbed for businesses to develop new technologies. 

  • Cost Savings: 
    Technologies like air quality and road sensors reduce costs and improve efficiency. 

  • Environmental Benefits: 
    Data collected will support more informed environmental policies and initiatives. 

Learning from Norfolk’s Success

Norfolk County Council's trial in Great Yarmouth showed how effective the network can be. Road temperature sensors there cut gritter vehicle costs in half by notifying crews when roads needed treatment. South Essex could see similar benefits. 

What’s Next for South Essex? 

The SEC LoRaWAN is now complete and will play a key role in improving life across the region. South Essex is leading the way in using digital innovation to enhance public services, protect the environment, and support economic growth.

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