The Fuvahmulah City Council has announced the launch of a pilot project to test the conversion of street and public lights to smart lighting, aiming to modernise and enhance the city’s infrastructure.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to transform Fuvahmulah into a more technology-driven, eco-friendly city. Through the initiative, the city will implement smart lighting, enabling remote control of street and public lights, allowing for efficient management, including turning lights on and off and detecting any issues. So far, two streetlights and four playing fields (with 20 lights) have been converted to smart lighting in Fuvahmulah.
Mayor of Fuvahmulah City Ismail Rafeeq noted that these smart lights will be more environmentally friendly than traditional streetlights and are projected to save between USD 65,000 and USD 130,000 annually, significantly reducing the city’s lighting costs. After the testing phase, the city plans to fully switch to smart lighting starting next year, with a goal of completing the transition within two years.
The Fuvahmulah City Council said that the project initially started with its own budget but will rely on donor funding in the future. In addition, 95 percent of the services offered by the council are now available online to improve accessibility. The “Afun City” portal has been launched to facilitate communication regarding municipal services, and another portal, “Afun Ado,” has been introduced to encourage public engagement in city affairs. These efforts align with the council’s broader vision to transform Fuvahmulah into a smart city.