Original article ISPreview UK:Read More
Telecoms and broadband giant BT has suffered another setback in its 10-year project, which aimed to convert a further 2,000 of their legacy payphones and kiosks – across more than 200 UK towns and cities – into smart Street Hubs (here). Preston Council rejected a couple of proposed deployments over concerns about rising “street clutter“.
Regular readers will know that BT’s Street Hub 2 units have suffered somewhat of a popularity dip, with various local authorities raising objections to related deployments in 2025 (here). The smart kiosks typically feature “up to” 1Gbps capable public WiFi (“within a 150-metre radius“), free UK calling, USB device charging, small cells to boost localised 4G and 5G mobile signals, local information / adverts via a large HD touchscreen display and environmental sensors etc.
Most of the rejections tend to highlight issues with the kiosk’s siting, design, scale (they’re roughly 3 metres tall, 1.25m wide and 35cm deep) and illumination. In the case of Preston Council, a spokesperson for the local authority said (Hello Rayo) that BT’s hubs would have had a “significant unacceptable adverse impact” on the character of the street by “increasing street clutter” and reducing the width of the footpath (this in areas where the council has been trying to reduce clutter).
However, BT has separately placed applications for three other Street Hubs in Preston, which are still awaiting an outcome. The capabilities of such hubs do, in fairness, come with a lot of positives, but clearly it’s proving to be a tough sell for some areas.
A BT Group Spokesperson previously told ISPreview:
“Street Hubs are digital units which support our Universal Service Obligation to provide a public call service in the UK. We work with council departments, community members, and BID (Business Improvement District) teams to refine our location selection process.
As well as offering connectivity to make calls and utilise free public Wi-Fi, Street Hubs also offer USBs for rapid device charging, touch-screen tablets displaying real-time public information and a dedicated 999 calling button.”