Smart city operator Connexin has raised an initial commitment of up to £80 million in funding to support its expansion and meet the expected growth in demand for smart networks in UK cities and their connecting infrastructures.

The injection of capital has been provided by independent infrastructure manager Whitehelm Capital.

In 2019, Connexin delivered the UK’s first purpose built Smart City Operating System for Hull City Council and this year helped Amey implement Connexin’s CityOS platform to improve highway maintenance services across Sheffield.

The added investment from Whitehelm will enable the company to accelerate its business strategy.

Furqan Alamgir, founder and chief executive of Connexin, said: “Now more than ever, we have been taught by the pandemic the true value of technology and the societal benefits that it has for citizens.

"At Connexin, we’re building sustainable, programmable infrastructure for today and tomorrow - this financing further validates the digital transformation we have delivered within cities, communities and the utility sector through our leadership and innovation in the smart infrastructure and Internet of Things (IoT) space.

Tom Maher, head of business development at Whitehelm Capital, said: “At a time when connectivity has become more important than ever, we have identified a significant need to invest in regional networks and support local communities."

Connexin uses an IoT foundation for its digital strategy and CityOS operating system, which centralises information to generate insights aimed at improving the wellbeing of individuals.

An example is solutions for councils that can monitor air quality and communicate this information with people who suffer with breathing conditions to help against prevent asthma attacks and reduce hospital admissions.

"We’ve also helped the utility sector with smart metering for leak protection for better water performance to help tackle the problem of 3.1 billion litres of water lost each day due to water leakage," added Alamgir.

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