Nationwide road lighting in Finland moves under a new control and monitoring system
When lights switch on along a dark road, an automated regional control system is working quietly in the background. The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency (Väylä) has selected technology company C2 SmartLight to deliver Finland’s new nationwide road lighting control and monitoring service. The solution ensures that lighting operates reliably across the state road network.
Finland’s road network will transition to a new real-time control system under a contract covering 2026–2036. Installations will begin in spring 2026, the system will be commissioned by August, and the full service will be operational in early December.
“When the lights work, the road user doesn’t notice anything. That is exactly the goal. Behind the scenes, a nationwide system monitors and manages lighting to keep roads safe every night,” says Petri Laitinen, CEO of C2 SmartLight.
New system brings clarity and real-time visibility to road lighting
The map-based system consolidates all lighting control data into a single interface, making monitoring clearer and more transparent. Real-time views indicate where lighting operates normally, where energy consumption shifts, and where anomalies occur.
The service enables both centralised and luminaire-specific control. It utilises consumption data from electricity distributors’ energy meters, supplemented with extensive background information such as weather conditions. Together these can make it possible to detect deviations quickly and adjust lighting as needed, saving energy and reducing light pollution.
Long-term partnership launched with new contract
C2 SmartLight was selected through an open public tender. The company has long-developed technologies for road and street lighting control, and the new nationwide system builds on this foundation.
“A unified operating model has proven to be a cost-effective way to work,” says Kari Laakso, Road Technology Specialist from The Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency (Väylä)
“The most concrete change is the switch of service provider. Above all, we expect a reliable, well-functioning system. Monitoring is a new feature in the service, and we hope it will bring tangible benefits in the future,” adds Kyösti Reinikka, Project Manager at the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY) for Southwest Finland.
The agreement is not only a technical delivery but also a ten-year service package including commissioning, training, and continuous support. It also creates readiness for future luminaire-level control.
“This is not just a new system—it is a long-term partnership focused on ensuring uninterrupted lighting. Our goal is to make road lighting a service Finns can trust every night,” Laitinen says.
C2 SmartLight is a Finnish Key Flag-certified company whose systems are used by more than 180 public-sector organisations across the country, including the City of Helsinki. With this new contract, nearly every Finn will travel on roads illuminated under C2 SmartLight’s control.
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C2 SmartLight is a Finnish technology company providing intelligent lighting control solutions for streets, sports areas, yards, parks, and harbours. Its systems are used by most Finnish municipalities and cities, and carry the Key Flag symbol. The solutions reduce energy consumption and light pollution while supporting the development of a sustainable and responsible urban environment. C2 SmartLight is part of the Hansab Group.