X2M Launches AI Streetlight Controller to Expand South Korean Smart City Platform

X2M Connect has unveiled a new AI-enabled bidirectional streetlight controller in South Korea, expanding its smart city platform and tapping into a $225 million annual market.

  • AI-enabled bidirectional streetlight controller launched
  • Controller manages up to 8 independent streetlight channels
  • Expands X2M’s addressable market within existing South Korean customers
  • Integrates with water monitoring for unified smart city management
  • Targets $225 million annual streetlight market in South Korea
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New Product Enhances Smart City Control Across Municipalities

X2M Connect (ASX:X2M) has expanded its foothold in South Korea’s smart city infrastructure with the launch of an AI-enabled remote-controlled bidirectional streetlight controller. This device can independently manage up to eight separate streetlight channels, allowing municipalities to remotely control lighting schedules, dimming, and automated fault detection across entire regions.

The controller’s ability to detect LED lamp failures through current sensing and report these instantly back to operators promises to reduce maintenance costs and improve response times. With remote override capabilities, lighting schedules can adapt in real time to severe weather or other conditions, optimising energy use and even supporting agricultural crop preservation through tailored dimming.

Platform Integration Strengthens Municipal Infrastructure Management

This new streetlight controller complements X2M’s existing AI-enabled water monitoring solutions, enabling South Korean municipalities to manage critical infrastructure assets through a single platform. By aggregating data from lighting and water devices, X2M’s platform facilitates AI-driven optimisation of resource consumption, waste reduction, and prioritised field service dispatch.

The platform processes millions of signals from connected devices, building a comprehensive real-time operational picture of a city’s environment. This unified approach aligns with Gartner’s warning that 60% of AI projects will fail by 2026 due to lack of AI-ready data, positioning X2M as a provider of fundamental AI infrastructure.

Expanding Market Opportunity Within Established Customer Base

X2M currently serves 58 local government authorities in South Korea. The total addressable market for streetlight management in the country is estimated at $225 million annually, adding to the $750 million upfront and $30 million recurring revenue opportunity from water utilities within the same customer base. The introduction of the streetlight controller expands X2M’s revenue potential without the need for new customer acquisition.

CEO Mohan Jesudason highlighted the strategic significance of this launch, stating it provides operators with a unified city infrastructure view, real-time control, and AI-ready data. The announcement follows recent initiatives including a manufacturing licence for an AI-enabled smart water meter and a partnership to develop regional data centres, signalling strong momentum as X2M approaches FY27.

Positioning for Future Smart City Growth

With the smart city market evolving rapidly, X2M’s integrated platform approach could offer municipalities a streamlined path to AI-driven operational efficiency. The company’s ability to connect multiple essential services through a single vendor relationship may enhance customer retention and create “stickiness” in a competitive sector.

Bottom Line?

X2M’s new streetlight controller deepens its smart city platform in South Korea, setting the stage for broader AI-driven infrastructure management ahead of FY27.

Questions in the middle?

  • How quickly will South Korean municipalities adopt the new streetlight controller?
  • Can X2M leverage this expanded platform to enter new smart city markets beyond South Korea?
  • What competitive responses might emerge in the South Korean smart city technology space?