NEW billboard units which can make calls and provide Wi-Fi are being installed across the city by BT.

Nine new ‘Street Hubs’ are being installed across Brighton by the company, which aim to offer shoppers, residents, businesses and the council a “modern answer to the demands of a rapidly changing community landscape”.

The new units feature a 75-inch screen for advertising from businesses and the council, free rapid charging points for devices, secure public Wi-Fi with speeds of up to 1Gbps, a touchscreen tablet for real-time information, as well as the ability to make free calls and a dedicated 999 button for emergencies.

The units are a quarter of the size of a traditional telephone box, with hubs already installed around the country saving enough space for 435 bike stands.

The ‘Street Hubs’ aim to bring improved connectivity, increased digital access and “future-ready” infrastructure to streets across the country, with units already installed in London, Glasgow and Nottingham.

A spokeswoman for BT said: “We’re in the process of installing nine new Street Hub units in Brighton, with plans to roll our further units across the area subject to local planning processes.

“Over 400 existing Street Hubs are already delivering a wide range of economic, social and technology benefits to communities and local councils up and down the country - from connecting local residents, businesses and visitors to free ultrafast Wi-Fi, to ensuring that people can contact the emergency services or charity helplines in times of need.

“Our new Street Hubs introduce upgraded features such as the functionality to provide environment monitoring for local authorities, the ability to boost 4G/5G mobile coverage and free screen time to local authorities to help promote local community services.”

The hubs form part of BT’s wider plan to upgrade their payphone estate, with the new units replacing existing telephone boxes in some cases.

The locations of the nine units currently being installed in Brighton are:

  • St. George’s Place
  • North Street
  • Grand Parade
  • Natal Road
  • Junction of North Road and Gloucester Place
  • Western Road (two hubs)
  • London Road (two hubs)