Case Study
Using Smart Technology to Improve Everyday Services Across Our Communities
Abzorb built a scalable, cost-effective LoRaWAN network for the councils of Basildon, Brentwood, Castle Point, Rochford, Southend-on-Sea, Thurrock & Essex County.
The network creates the foundation for smart city services, lowers the barrier to loT adoption, and enables long-term operational efficiencies across six councils and county. Through this collaboration of local authorities across the South Essex region, the goal was to create a smarter, more connected public sector environment that could support the future, including Internet of Things (IoT) initiatives.
Collectively, the councils understood the potential of IoT technologies to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and provide better visibility across public assets and services. However, deploying individual IoT projects in isolation was difficult to justify financially because the infrastructure costs associated with connectivity and network deployment created barriers to entry.
resilient LoRaWAN networks
Abzorb worked with the group of councils to design and deploy two resilient LoRaWAN networks across the region. The project leveraged existing dark fibre investment while reducing infrastructure requirements through advanced radio frequency (RF) planning and mapping.
By reducing the required gateways from 60 to 44, Abzorb delivered comprehensive coverage across 98% of the region while completing the project £40,000 under budget.
Opportunities for Improvement
Rising operational costs
The councils faced ongoing pressure to reduce operational expenditure across buildings, estates, and public services while maintaining service quality.
Limited visibility across assets
Many public buildings and assets lacked real-time monitoring, making it difficult to optimise estate usage, energy consumption, occupancy, and maintenance.
High barriers to loT adoption
Although loT solutions existed for many council challenges, the cost of deploying separate network infrastructure for each project made ROI difficult to justify.
Complex regional deployment
Deploying loT infrastructure across six councils presented logistical and technical challenges requiring consistent coordination across multiple sites.
Need for scalable smart city infrastructure
The goal was to create a future-proof platform that would enable councils to trial and deploy smart services quickly and cost-effectively.
Pressure to maximise existing investment
The councils wanted to leverage their existing dark fibre infrastructure investment while minimising the number of gateways and reducing deployment costs.
The Solution
Abzorb designed and delivered a regional LoRaWAN network that allows councils and public sector organisations across South Essex to deploy loT sensors quickly, easily, and at low cost. The solution leveraged the councils' existing dark fibre infrastructure and combined detailed analysis with advanced RF planning using Siradel tools to optimise network coverage.
Initial estimates suggested around 60 gateways would be required to achieve full coverage across the region. Through detailed mapping and intelligent network design, Abzorb reduced the deployment requirement to just 44 gateways, significantly lowering infrastructure costs while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
The network enables councils to deploy a wide range of loT applications including:
The network was designed as an open, scalable platform, allowing councils to purchase and deploy sensors from any supplier without needing to establish separate network infrastructure for each new use case.
Abzorb also delivered the full end-to-end rollout programme, including surveys, installation, testing, RAMS documentation, health and safety management, and direct coordination with individual council sites.
"All councils involved wanted to remove the barriers that normally stop organisations deploying loT projects at scale. We built a resilient regional network that gives councils the flexibility to trial and deploy smart technologies quickly, efficiently, and at very low cost.
Instead of building isolated IoT projects, they now have a long-term digital foundation for smarter public services across the region."
Dr. Dean Al-Sened
Head of Public Sector & Enterprise
Abzorb
"The shared loT network gives councils across South Essex a practical way to test, deploy and scale smart technologies without building separate infrastructure each time.
It gives us better visibility across public assets, enables early interventions, and a more flexible platform for future digital services. What started as a connectivity project has become a long-term enabler for smarter services and that is the value Abzorb delivers."
Carol Thomas
Director Digital and ICT & SIRO
Southend-on-Sea City Council
Benefits
A scalable smart city foundation
Abzorb created a long-term IoT platform that gives the councils the connectivity foundation to support current & future smart city services.
Lower barriers to innovation
Council departments can now deploy low-cost sensors without needing to fund separate network infrastructure for every new use case.
New monetisation opportunities
Abzorb also built a second LoRaWAN network that can be made available to businesses, public sector partners, & other organisations across the region, creating opportunities for learning or a potential new revenue stream from the infrastructure.
Long-term flexibility
The platform allows councils to deploy sensors from multiple vendors and scale services over time as new requirements emerge.
Faster deployment of new services
Councils can now trial and expand IoT applications with minimal risk, low upfront investment, and faster time to value.
Improved operational visibility
The network supports real-time monitoring of buildings, occupancy, environmental conditions, public assets, and council services.
Delivered under budget
Intelligent network design and disciplined delivery helped the councils involved achieve comprehensive regional coverage below the original budget.
End-to-end delivery
Abzorb managed the complete project lifecycle, including network design, mapping, installation, project management, engineering delivery, and health and safety compliance.
The Future
The deployment across the councils and region has created a long-term solution for future smart city innovation across the region.
With the network live, councils are continuing to expand the number of connected loT services and sensors being deployed across libraries, public buildings, roads, environmental monitoring projects, and public infrastructure.
