An outdoor lighting system for use as a contingency connectivity infrastructure, comprising: an outdoor lighting network management system, the outdoor lighting network management system in communication with a plurality of light points forming an outdoor lighting network, each of the plurality of light points emitting illumination and communicating with other light points and the outdoor lighting network management system by a first communication protocol having a first message prioritization method, wherein the outdoor lighting system assigns message priorities according to a first predetermined normal operating mode set of criteria; wherein each of the light points in the outdoor lighting network has instructions stored in a memory and a processor to execute the instructions to: switch the light point to a second communication protocol, the second communication protocol a device to device protocol wherein each of the light points is operable to transmit a message to a geographically adjacent light point in the outdoor lighting network, the second communication protocol having a second message prioritization method, wherein the outdoor lighting system assigns message priorities according to a second predetermined emergency mode set of criteria; further wherein each of the light points in the outdoor lighting network further has instructions to communicate with a field device of a separate system network not associated with the outdoor lighting network by the second communication protocol; wherein the second communication protocol is a device-to-device, D2D, cellular communication protocol; and wherein each of the outdoor lighting network light points is operable to autonomously switch between the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol. an outdoor lighting network management system, the outdoor lighting network management system in communication with a plurality of light points forming an outdoor lighting network, each of the plurality of light points emitting illumination and communicating with other light points and the outdoor lighting network management system by a first communication protocol having a first message prioritization method, wherein the outdoor lighting system assigns message priorities according to a first predetermined normal operating mode set of criteria; wherein each of the light points in the outdoor lighting network has instructions stored in a memory and a processor to execute the instructions to: switch the light point to a second communication protocol, the second communication protocol a device to device protocol wherein each of the light points is operable to transmit a message to a geographically adjacent light point in the outdoor lighting network, the second communication protocol having a second message prioritization method, wherein the outdoor lighting system assigns message priorities according to a second predetermined emergency mode set of criteria; further wherein each of the light points in the outdoor lighting network further has instructions to communicate with a field device of a separate system network not associated with the outdoor lighting network by the second communication protocol; wherein the second communication protocol is a device-to-device, D2D, cellular communication protocol; and wherein each of the outdoor lighting network light points is operable to autonomously switch between the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol. switch the light point to a second communication protocol, the second communication protocol a device to device protocol wherein each of the light points is operable to transmit a message to a geographically adjacent light point in the outdoor lighting network, the second communication protocol having a second message prioritization method, wherein the outdoor lighting system assigns message priorities according to a second predetermined emergency mode set of criteria; further wherein each of the light points in the outdoor lighting network further has instructions to communicate with a field device of a separate system network not associated with the outdoor lighting network by the second communication protocol; wherein the second communication protocol is a device-to-device, D2D, cellular communication protocol; and wherein each of the outdoor lighting network light points is operable to autonomously switch between the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol.