UnaBiz, Massive IoT service provider and integrator launches SeeGALE with KYOCERA Communication Systems Co., Ltd. (KCCS), the innovative asset management solution based in Japan, to transform parcels and boxes shipment monitoring in Europe.

UnaBiz, as the primary distributor of SeeGALE in Europe, is currently co-exhibiting with KCCS at Parcel+Post Expo 2023, a premier exhibition of future technologies, solutions, and services for parcel delivery, e-commerce logistics, and postal industries. The exhibition is held at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Center in the Netherlands from October 24th to 26th.

SeeGALE is an end-to-end tracking solution that detects the opening and closing of parcels to ensure the integrity and security of products during transportation. Empowered by the Sigfox 0G technology, the most energy-efficient LPWAN solution supported by the global 0G Network in over 70 countries, the SeeGALE solution allows its users to track the location and security of their goods in parcels with minimal energy usage, offering an ultra-low-cost and environmentally responsible operation for customers who values longevity and traceability.

“It is remarkable to see KCCS moving beyond the traditional tracking of returnable transport packaging assets to address new customer needs with SeeGALE parcel monitoring solution. We are thrilled that they chose Sigfox 0G technology, and have achieved success in Japan with this simple, low-cost, and energy-efficient innovation, a perfect fit for parcel monitoring. SeeGALE meets the burgeoning needs of the logistics industry by providing real-time insights, increasing transparency and visibility of high-value goods, and enabling next-level inventory management and demand forecasting. This end-to-end solution alleviates concerns about the complexity of connectivity, hardware, and software. We strongly believe that SeeGALE will revolutionise a myriad of sectors that prioritise parcel shipment monitoring such as Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, Luxury, and Industrial & Automation Manufacturers.” said Loic Barancourt, the Chief Commercial Officer of UnaBiz Group.

“At KCCS, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation and technology. SeeGALE represents a culmination of our efforts to create smarter and more secure solutions for the global market. We are excited to partner with UnaBiz to introduce SeeGALE to Europe, revolutionizing product shipment monitoring and creating new possibilities in various industries including supply chain sector in Europe,” said Naoki Kawai, Division Manager of Wireless Solutions Division of KYOCERA Communication Systems Co., Ltd.

SeeGALE is designed to answer the following common asset management use cases:

a. Inventory Management in Manufacturing: SeeGALE enhances production planning and demand forecasting by providing precise tracking of in-market inventory and discerning consumer trends. This is particularly transformative for managing costly maintenance parts and components that are produced in small quantities, and a broad assortment of long-tail products, optimising inventory levels and thereby, enhancing the efficiency of manufacturing processes.

b. Secure Transportation Management for High-Value Goods: The solution proves invaluable in managing the distribution of high-value goods with a security seal. Pharmaceuticals, alcoholic beverages, and luxury companies can assure their customers that their purchased goods are only opened at authorised shipping checkpoints, or remain unopened until they reach their final destinations. This significantly improves the quality and integrity of the transportation process, ensuring premium products reach their destination in impeccable condition, free from sabotage.

Featuring 2 innovative variants, the SeeGALE solution is available in 2 form factors:

SeeGALE-C, a reusable card-type device which not only detects the location but also the opening status of products during transportation. With its reusable nature, it can be integrated seamlessly into different packaging types, including plastic containers, providing an efficient and sustainable way to monitor products and components throughout their transportation journey. The device lasts for approximately 2 years if one message is sent per day, and approximately 4 years if one message is sent per month.

SeeGALE-F, a film-version of the solution tailored for disposable packaging boxes, providing an effective monitoring solution for single-use packaging without additional waste generation.

SeeGALE-Card is currently available in the Sigfox RCZ1 radio configuration while the SeeGALE-Film is currently under development. To learn more about SeeGALE and UnaBiz’s innovative asset management solutions, visit us at Parcel+Post Expo 2023.

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KAIFA¹ and UnaBiz², announce strategic partnership to accelerate the global deployment of smart water metering solutions empowered by Sigfox 0G technology, including collaboration to bring Sigfox 0G and LoRa dual-mode hybrid solution to market.

Henry Chan, Global Sales Director of KAIFA says, “KAIFA is proud to join forces with UnaBiz in this transformative endeavor. By leveraging UnaBiz’s renowned expertise in bespoke IoT solutions, and the tremendous potential for energy-efficiency enabled by the Sigfox 0G technology, we aim to bring to the market high-quality advanced water metering solutions that are not only accurate and reliable but also cost-competitive, scalable and environmentally friendly to the water metering sector.”

Loic Barrancourt, Chief Commercial Officer of UnaBiz Group says, “We are excited to partner with KAIFA, a leader in Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) solution to not only drive efficiency but also promote sustainability, making a positive impact on communities worldwide. KAIFA’s quality excellence and UnaBiz’s design capabilities are key ingredients to bringing an integrated fit-for-purpose solution to end customers to enable Massive IoT. We look forward to working closely with KAIFA to bring on a new era of efficiency and sustainability in the realm of water resource management.”

The dynamic duo has already achieved success in various parts of the globe even before the official partnership announcement. Most recently, Iguá Saneamento, Brazilian water and sewerage services supplier, has partnered with KAIFA and WND Brazil to roll out 120,000 smart water meters powered by Sigfox 0G technology.

Jose Almeida – Deputy Chief Executive Officer of WND Brazil said:

“Sigfox 0G technology’s energy-efficient design aligns with Iguá Saneamento’s commitment to sustainability. Reduced power consumption and extended device lifecycles ultimately contribute to a greener and more eco-conscious future. We are certain the collaboration between UnaBiz and KAIFA will pave the way for smarter, more sustainable solutions in water resource management across the globe.”

UnaBiz and KAIFA‘s combined global footprint will allow the partners to address the unique needs of diverse markets. The pair will focus on specific regions like Europe, the Middle East, and Central and South America to accelerate and magnify its prevailing success.

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UnaBiz Equips TotalEnergies Service Station Stores with 3,000 Temperature Sensors to Enhance Food Safety.

TotalEnergies signs agreement with UnaBiz, Massive IoT service provider and integrator, to equip motorway service station stores with sensors to monitor the temperature control of refrigeration units.

Today, more than 160 motorway service stations in the TotalEnergies network are equipped with around 3,000 refrigeration temperature sensors powered by Sigfox 0G technology.

The digital cold chain monitoring solution provided by UnaBiz empowers TotalEnergies to bolster its sanitary control plans and adhere to Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP¹) principles, bringing food security to the food service industry.

Powered by Sigfox 0G technology, the sensor solution provided by UnaBiz France automatically records temperature readings in the refrigerated units, ensuring compliance with health standards in the stores and restaurants of TotalEnergies service stations. As the sensors transmit information wirelessly from the refrigeration units to the customers’ system, the TotalEnergies team access the consolidated temperature and stock data, as well as product use-by dates easily via a computer and tablet.

UnaBiz France takes the lead in providing all essential components for deploying and operating the system. This comprehensive support encompasses equipment availability, logistics, installation, and access to a user-friendly app designed for station managers.

For the TotalEnergies teams, who previously took temperature readings manually several times a day, this real-time monitoring solution brings about substantial time-savings.

The implemented solution serves as an analysis tool, ensuring product traceability and data accuracy. It anticipates breakdowns, prioritizing food safety, and product/service quality at TotalEnergies’ network stations.

In addition to enhancing food safety, this solution aids in energy conservation by preventing unnecessary energy costs associated with improperly regulated storage temperatures.

Bolstered by these benefits, this 3-year partnership is currently being extended to other TotalEnergies service stations in Europe and Africa.

Arnaud Tayac, General Manager of UnaBiz France says:

“UnaBiz is proud to play a key role in this initiative, providing essential components and expertise for the deployment and maintenance of the system. Our partnership with TotalEnergies is a concrete example of how Sigfox 0G technology can be used to optimize operational processes.”

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WaterMeter Corp, in collaboration with WND Mexico and UnaBiz, is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to revolutionise water management in Mexico.

This strategic alliance aims to deploy 1 million water meters with Sigfox 0G technology throughout Mexico over the next 10 years, offering innovative solutions for accurate, efficient, and sustainable measurement of water, gas and electricity for the benefit of communities and the environment.

Empowering Water Management with Sigfox 0G Technology

WaterMeter Corp has forged a high-impact alliance with WND Mexico and UnaBiz to introduce 1 million water measurement solutions based on Sigfox 0G technology in Mexico. Leveraging WND’s 0G Network, this collaboration will facilitate the efficient monitoring and management of water resources.

WND Mexico: Facilitating Connectivity Without Borders

As the operator of the 0G Network in Mexico, WND Mexico is committed to providing extensive coverage crucial to the successful deployment of water metering solutions powered by Sigfox 0G technology across the country. This alliance reinforces WND Mexico’s dedication to supporting innovative IoT solutions.

UnaBiz: Pioneers in the Future of Water Management

As the owner of Sigfox 0G technology, UnaBiz guarantees the continuity and longevity of the network and services in Mexico for the next 15 years. With a strong track record of connecting more than 2 million gas and water meters worldwide through the global 0G network, UnaBiz brings unparalleled experience to this transformative collaboration.

WaterMeter Corp

Committed to Sustainability and Efficiency, WaterMeter Corp, an expert in water measurement solutions, confidently embraces Sigfox 0G technology because of its ability to communicate equipment in a dispersed or sectorised way without the need to install concentrator antennas, repeaters or gateways on public poles. This decision underscores its commitment to providing cost-effective and sustainable water metering solutions for municipalities in Mexico.

A Shared Vision for Sustainable Water Management

This alliance between WaterMeter Corp, WND Mexico, and UnaBiz is based on a shared long-term business vision. Recognising the critical importance of security, stability, and continuity in the utility market, the trio aims to redefine water measurement in Mexico and beyond.

The fundamental objective is to multiply success stories based on projects with successful investment returns; UnaBiz, WND and WaterMeter Corp are willing to revolutionise the administration and management of water, gas, and electricity with cutting-edge technology.

Currently, the 0G network covers more than 60% of the national population with the commitment to deploy in a few days. After the success of the first stage applied to horizontal and vertical condominiums nationwide, the second step has been called: “essence the IoT technology for everyone, everywhere”.

Marco Mendoza, CEO of WaterMeter Corp:
“Our customers expect water metering solutions that meet their basic needs: accounting for 100% of water, gas or electricity effectively (day, week or month), with cost-effective and operationally practical solutions, and that fit their implementation budgets. This is precisely why we are committed to the Sigfox 0G technology, which allows us to read meters remotely cost-effectively, predictably, and extremely energy-efficiently. Together with WND Mexico and UnaBiz, we will connect millions of water meters in Mexico.”

Daniel Philippe Guevara, CEO of WND Mexico:
“We are excited to partner with WaterMeter Corp (certified in IoT Network for utilities with Sigfox 0G technology) and UnaBiz to pave the way to a smarter and more sustainable Mexico. As the operator of Mexico’s 0G Network, WND Mexico is fully dedicated to providing solid coverage essential for deploying IoT solutions powered by Sigfox 0G technology, including water metering. We share a long-term vision with WaterMeter Corp, recognising the importance of safety, stability, and continuity in the utility market. We hope to transform the smart water metering landscape with 1 million connected water meters over the next 10 years.”

Henri Bong, CEO and Co-founder of UnaBiz:
“At UnaBiz, we are committed to leveraging our experience as owners of Sigfox 0G technology to ensure the continuity and durability of the network and services in Mexico for the next 15 years. With a proven track record of connecting more than 2.6 million meters around the world through the Sigfox 0G network, we are confident that, together with WaterMeter Corp, we will deliver water metering solutions that will help Mexican municipalities address the challenges of water scarcity, non-technical losses, and water leaks.”

“With a long-term business vision, our goal is to modernise the water management system in Mexico, promote water conservation and ensure the country’s sustainable and efficient use of water resources.”

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Semtech today announced it is collaborating with Massive IoT service provider and integrator UnaBiz, to enable Sigfox 0G technology on Semtech’s LoRa Edge and the next generation LoRa Connect platforms.

Semtech Corporation, a high-performance semiconductor, IoT systems and cloud connectivity service provider, today announced it is collaborating with Massive IoT service provider and integrator UnaBiz, to enable Sigfox 0G technology on Semtech’s LoRa Edge and the next generation LoRa Connect platforms.

This collaboration will enable customers to develop solutions that combine LoRaWAN® and Sigfox 0G technologies, providing global coverage for more IoT use cases such as asset management through ultra-low power geolocation in industries including supply chain and logistics.

Semtech’s LoRa technology, with its long range, low power and secure communication capabilities, has emerged as the de facto IoT platform for private LPWAN IoT applications. Today, LoRa Edge and the LoRa Connect transceivers offer cutting-edge radio performance with highly desirable features such as multi-band connectivity, ultra-low power Wi-Fi and GNSS scanning capabilities in a single monolithic silicon, making them highly cost-effective platforms for IoT and geolocation applications in the global unlicensed LPWAN market, ensuring wide coverage. This collaboration paves the road for LoRa Cloud geolocation on the Sigfox global 0G network, currently present in over 70 countries. Simplifying IoT deployments and enhancing global availability based on the combined network’s coverage will enhance the options and opportunities for developers to create world-class solutions.

UnaBiz joined the LoRa Alliance® as a Contributor member recently following a series of partnership announcements with several LoRaWAN ecosystem members. In April 2023, UnaBiz opened up the Sigfox device library to the public and IoT community to build bridges with all IoT communication technologies and power sustainable business growth. The open device library facilitated the validation of the Sigfox 0G technology with the LoRa Edge platform.

Tom Mueller, executive vice president and general manager of the IoT System Products Group, Semtech, said:

“With this collaboration, we are bringing together the LoRaWAN and Sigfox ecosystems to expand Semtech’s LoRa platform to an even larger footprint of LPWAN networks across the globe and provide IoT developers and customers with best-in-class solutions for ultra-low power connectivity, security and cloud-based geolocation.”

“We are creating a cost-effective, single SKU platform for our customers to benefit from the best available network coverage globally and we are enabling LoRa Cloud geolocation across these networks, bringing ultra-low power Wi-Fi and GNSS sniffing for logistics and asset tracking.”

“This collaboration demonstrates our commitment to provide our customers with the most cost-effective and energy-efficient technologies for sustainable solutions,” said Remi Lorrain, Vice President of Convergence, UnaBiz. “By accelerating technology convergence at the device and software layer, we provide our customers the freedom to select the most effective and relevant connectivity, leveraging both Sigfox 0G network and LoRaWAN coverage, based on their business requirements and sustainability goals.”

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The new owner of Sigfox 0G technology is championing the Convergence of Low-Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) technologies to deliver Massive Internet of Things (IoT).

UnaBiz, Massive IoT service provider and integrator, today announced that they have become a Contributor member of the LoRa Alliance®, an open, non-profit association of IoT companies with over 400 members.

The move follows a series of partnership announcements with LoRaWAN® players including The Things Industries, Senet, Loriot and Actility.

Since UnaBiz acquired Sigfox 0G technology in 2022, the company has embarked on a journey of growth and Technology Convergence. In April 2023, UnaBiz released the Sigfox 0G technology device library code to the IoT development community to build bridges with all communication technologies including, LTE-M Cellular, LoRaWAN®, and Satellite players. Most recently, the company signed a global agreement with Soracom to include global cellular connectivity service in its offerings.

“The first step towards Technology Convergence is understanding our differences. As a firm believer in an open ecosystem, UnaBiz has worked with various IoT communication technologies in the last seven years, and we understand well that each customer should have the freedom to leverage the uniqueness of each LPWAN in order to capture maximum value from their Massive IoT projects,” said Henri Bong, Co-Founder and CEO of UnaBiz.

Remi Lorrain, who joined UnaBiz as its VP of Convergence in June shared:

“We look forward to contributing to the work of the LoRa Alliance committees to drive Massive IoT with the adoption of LoRaWAN in our IoT connectivity portfolio, complementing Sigfox 0G, cellular and satellite.”

As a Contributor, UnaBiz will work with the LoRaWAN ecosystem to deliver LoRaWAN solutions to its customers through its global channels to market. The group is also keen to identify the right partners for go-to-market in its key verticals, especially Building & Facilities management where it has already deployed LoRaWAN-enabled solutions across the world.

“I am pleased to welcome UnaBiz to the LoRa Alliance. Solutions providers are a key driver of LoRaWAN adoption and scaled deployments. UnaBiz’s viewpoints on multi-protocol business models align with the LoRa Alliance’s strategy that complementary protocols are required to address Massive IoT use case solutions.” Donna Moore CEO and Chairwoman of LoRa Alliance® commented.

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UnaBiz and ZiFiSense signed an MoU to promote the development of a Unified LPWAN World to enable Massive IoT.

Under the agreement, UnaBiz and ZiFiSense will leverage their respective networks, with ZETA network covering China and UnaBiz’s global 0G network in 70+ countries, to allow partners and customers to scale their operations globally. The two companies will collaborate on technical and business aspects to integrate LPWAN technology standards and connect different industries.

On the business side, the two companies will leverage their networks to create a seamless global LPWAN network, offering cross-regional and cross-border IoT solutions for Enterprise Customers who have a global footprint, especially in key verticals such as supply chain management, production manufacturing, and public utilities.

From a technical perspective, UnaBiz and Zifisense are co-developing and integrating the Sigfox Stack into ZiFiSense’s second-generation chip, allowing global roaming on both ZETA and Sigfox 0G networks as the chipset will support the Sigfox DBPSK modulation scheme and ZETA’s Advanced M-FSK modulation, allowing continuity of operations for both party’s customers.

Zhuoqun Li, the CEO and Founder at ZifiSense said, “This partnership capitalizes on the complementary strengths of both companies and leverages our combined network coverage to enable hybrid IoT solutions to create a more vibrant, integrated and seamless industrial IoT ecosystem. The collaboration is expected to foster mutually compatible IoT ecosystems in the market, providing our customers with more diverse, convenient, and cost-effective IoT services.”

Henri Bong, the CEO & Co-Founder of UnaBiz, met Zhuoqun Li during his recent visit to China with Business France and President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron.

“UnaBiz is committed to create A Unified LPWAN World with our partners. By leveraging the well-established ZETA network in China and our strong 0G Network commercialized by 0G Operators in Europe and beyond, we are certain that we can open more doors and use-cases that translate to bigger opportunities for all LPWAN solution makers and service providers.”

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Actility, the leading provider of unlicensed multi-radio LPWAN infrastructure, and UnaBiz, global Massive IoT service provider and integrator have announced a strategic collaboration to integrate their respective platforms and ecosystems.

The joint effort aims to bring the power of LoRaWAN® and Sigfox 0G technology together in a simple and unified manner, enabling customers to meet their diverse networking requirements and accelerate their IoT projects.

Actility, the co-inventor of LoRaWAN® and founding member of LoRa Alliance® serves LoRaWAN and cellular-based public and private LPWAN networks with its ThingPark® platform, and low-power geolocation use cases with its Abeeway trackers. UnaBiz, the new owner of Sigfox 0G technology specialises in sensor product design, manufacturing, and data platform services across a hybrid of network communication technologies to power sustainable business growth. In order to better serve customers that require a range of LPWAN connectivity solutions, UnaBiz and Actility have integrated their platforms at two different levels.

A specific ThingPark X connector is used in the first type of integration to link networks powered by ThingPark to UnaConnect, UnaBiz’s tech-agnostic data management platform. Users of UnaConnect may now access data flows collected from LoRaWAN® and NB-IoT/LTE-M devices that are served by the ThingPark network deployments and global IoT SIMs thanks to this integration.

The second integration brings Sigfox data to LoRaWAN networks and applications via the ThingPark Exchange roaming hub. This helps to translate Sigfox frames to LoRaWAN® frames and vice versa. Any standard LoRaWAN network connected to ThingPark Exchange and IoT applications built for LoRaWAN® can now leverage devices powered by Sigfox 0G technology without any special adaptation.

As both integration methods are independent of one another, customers may choose to use them separately or in combination.

Olivier Hersent, CEO of Actility, said:

“It is a reality that the market uses a mix of LPWAN technologies. UnaBiz and Actility have decided to integrate both our technologies in multiple ways so that any customer may easily utilise either, or a combination of the two, instead of being forced to choose one or do a complex integration on their own. This partnership serves as a resounding affirmation of our shared goal of building Massive IoT.”

“Actility was one of the first LoRaWAN partners to share our vision of Convergence. We are extremely pleased to take another step towards our vision of a United LPWAN World, and excited to see the integration of our technologies happen so swiftly. We will work closely with Actility to help our partners bring new solutions to the market to help our customers accelerate their adoption of multi-technology projects!” said Henri Bong, Co-Founder & CEO of UnaBiz.

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UnaBiz, global Massive IoT service provider and integrator across a hybrid of network communication technologies, has released to the public and the IoT developers community the Sigfox 0G technology device library code for connected objects.

The announcement marks a significant step in driving the technology interoperability and the unification of LPWANs in the IoT industry, which is aligned with UnaBiz’s “Technology Convergence” movement that it started when it acquired the Sigfox 0G technology in April 2022.

By opening up the proprietary technology and putting the Sigfox 0G technology device library code in the public domain, UnaBiz makes it easier for a much broader range of developers, engineers, users and students to integrate the 0G technology into their IoT devices and applications and develop more efficient solutions in terms of energy consumption, multi-connectivity, and build extra features on top of the library.

Features flexibility will give device developers the freedom to fully customise their solution for a specific application and subsequently enhance the overall performance of the solution. Developers can now fully unleash the power of Sigfox 0G technology and build innovative applications that can improve people’s lives and drive business growth in the most energy-efficient manner.

The release builds on the company’s most recent announcements with The Things Industries, Senet, and Loriot, LoRaWAN players who have entered into partnerships with UnaBiz as they believe in the vision of Convergence.

“This is an exciting moment for the Sigfox 0G technology community who has seen the recent announcement of our collaboration with LoRaWAN players,” said Henri Bong, Co-Founder and CEO of UnaBiz. “We cannot do this alone. In order to make significant progress in Convergence, we need to open up Sigfox and enable the entire IoT ecosystem to join us in the movement. While partnerships with LPWAN actors will strengthen our position as a leading provider of IoT connectivity solutions, we also need to enable the ecosystem to create hybrid IoT solutions that will ultimately be offered to businesses across a wide range of industries,” he added.

Alexis Susset, Group CTO of UnaBiz, said:

“The opening of the Sigfox 0G device library brings freedom to the chipset, module manufacturers, and developers. They can now adapt the memory footprint of their solutions based on the use cases, be it advanced communication devices that require bi-directional communication, or simple IoT devices that require uplink-only communication.”

“By giving them total access to the 0G technology, we are enabling the creation of highly optimised IoT solutions in terms of cost and energy consumption. The open library also facilitates interoperability and standardisation, allowing seamless integration of devices and systems across applications and protocols.”

The developer community can now visit the Sigfox 0G technology’s Github page and www.build.sigfox.com, where they can access the new device library codes and related documentation. For more information, UnaBiz invites developers to join our community of technical people on Slack.

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UnaBiz has signed a partnership agreement with LORIOT to develop multi-protocol solutions that enable large-scale IoT deployments for customers across a range of industries.

UnaBiz¹ and LORIOT² join forces to enable clients to deploy massive IoT solutions and provide them with the choice between multiple protocols that are best suited for their use case.

UnaBiz, the owner of Sigfox 0G technology specializes in sensor product design, manufacturing and data platform services across a hybrid of low-power wide-area networks (LPWAN) to create business value. LORIOT, pioneer and leader in the LoRaWAN® and mioty® markets, specializes in the development, management and operation of its LPWAN Network Management System solution provided as both public and private, on cloud and on-premise instances, to network operators, public administrations and large bluechip corporations.

Together, the two companies will leverage their respective expertise and strengths to deliver integrated IoT solutions with multiple LPWAN protocols capabilities, including Sigfox 0G technology, LoRaWAN® and mioty®.

The technical convergence will see the integration of LORIOT’s hybrid Network Management System Hummingbird and UnaBiz’s middleware IoT data management platform UnaConnect, to develop a catalogue of products and services.

The multi-protocol approach provides UnaBiz and LORIOT clients with more connectivity options, and greater flexibility when it comes to increasing device density. These benefits allow clients to leverage massive IoT in all desired verticals and use cases, simplifying device integration, securing the delivery of aggregated data to multiple end platforms, and, ultimately, making their IoT solutions more efficient, scalable and cost-effective.

Henri Bong, CEO and Co/Founder of UnaBiz, said:

“On top of the technical collaboration, UnaBiz will support LORIOT in the manufacturing of Industrial IoT Solutions powered by LoRaWAN® as well as other protocols used by LORIOT’s clients around the world. This strategic partnership demonstrates the positive outcome for customers and the market when LPWAN service providers unite.”

Julian Studer, CEO at LORIOT, added:
“Our strategic collaboration with UnaBiz is built on a hybrid approach, strong customer-focused culture and convergent vision. Together, we will be able to offer our customers a higher degree of flexibility and simplicity, helping them generate true value in their industries on a large scale. We are thrilled to collaborate with UnaBiz to provide our customers with the best of both worlds in terms of multi-protocol IoT solutions. By leveraging our strengths, we can bring a better IoT experience to the market, addressing the growing demand for Massive IoT deployments.”

In addition, through this partnership, UnaBiz clients will gain access to LORIOT LoRaWAN Roaming Hub allowing them to extend network coverage and density. This will give them instant access to LORIOT global LoRaWAN public infrastructure as well as third parties’ networks.

Together, the two companies will be able to bring their vision for convergence and commitment to excellence to their customers by meeting their needs for massive IoT globally.

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UnaBiz¹ has partnered with The Things Industries² to provide customers with a better experience for collecting IoT data and device heterogeneous fleet device management.

The partnership involves UnaBiz integrating The Things Stack into its middleware platform, UnaConnect, to enhance its capabilities in interfacing with the TTI network. This integration will allow customers who want to adopt hybrid solutions to enjoy secure, reliable, and cost-efficient data aggregation service.

Henri Bong, CEO and Co-Founder of UnaBiz:

“Interoperability has always been an obstacle for Massive IoT. By integrating The Things Stack onto UnaConnect, we are offering our customers the freedom to choose the best solution that fits their needs. By leveraging the TTI’s global roaming platform, we enable our customers to roam and scale on both 0G and LoRaWAN.”

As part of the partnership, UnaBiz and its 70+ national Sigfox 0G Operators will also gain access to The Things Industries’ global LoRaWAN roaming platform, providing a complementary roaming and peering infrastructure. This will enable UnaBiz and its partners to offer immediately carrier-grade LoRaWAN roaming and peering solutions to its customers.

The Things Industries, a trusted partner for LoRaWAN device makers globally, will provide UnaBiz with direct access to its ecosystem of 500+ device makers and 170K developers worldwide. This partnership will provide UnaBiz with the opportunity to leverage The Things Industries’ expertise in the LoRaWAN network management infrastructure and directly tap into its global market-leading platform, The Things Stack Cloud.

“We are excited to support UnaBiz in their technology convergence strategy as their partner for LoRaWAN network management infrastructure. We are a strong believer of their vision and are happy to provide their customers with a world class LoRaWAN infrastructure” – Wienke Giezeman, CEO and Co-founder of The Things Industries.

In conclusion, UnaBiz and The Things Industries’ partnership will deliver unparalleled IoT solutions, bringing together the strengths of each company to address the needs of the industrial IoT market and provide customers with the best possible experience.

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UnaBiz, Massive Internet of Things (IoT) service provider, closes Series B at over US$50M in an extension round led by SPARX Group and followed by G K Goh Holdings and Optimal Investment.

The new financing is reserved for existing investors.

Earlier this year, the company acquired the Sigfox 0G technology that powers the global public 0G Network and connects over 10 million sensors for 1,500+ B2B customers through 70+ national 0G operators worldwide.

After 6 months of successful integration, the company is ready to invest in sustainable product innovation, and strengthen its four key verticals: Utilities, Security, Facilities Management, and Supply Chain & Logistics, across LATAM, APAC and EMEA.

Sparx Group, which also led the initial Series B supported the acquisition.

Shuhei Abe, President and CEO of SPARX Group said:

“UnaBiz acquisition of the 0G technology significantly enhances and cements the group’s position as the global leader of Massive IoT. As the technology owner of the most energy-efficient LPWAN technology available on the market, UnaBiz is in a prime position to champion the convergence of Massive IoT communication technologies (from 0G to 5G) to help enterprises achieve their digitalisation and sustainability goals.”

SPARX Group is an independent investment company based in Tokyo, Japan, that manages over US$10 billion worth of assets. It is listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange.

“We are encouraged by the trust and confidence of our investors in this extension round despite the current economic climate,” said Henri Bong, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of UnaBiz Group. “With their strong support and the newly energised team that consists of key executives with deep expertise in technology, operations, sales and marketing, the UnaBiz team will work closely with and through our global partners and 0G Operators around the world to drive Massive IoT.”

Founded in 2016, the company operates with sales offices in Tokyo, Paris, Madrid and Rotterdam, and has two R&D centres in Taiwan Taipei and France Labège. Post-acquisition, UnaBiz doubled its office locations and tripled in headcount. The company currently employs over 240 employees worldwide.

Goh Yew Lin, Managing Director, G. K. Goh Holdings, a Singapore-based investment company, says: “We are happy to increase our investment in UnaBiz as it accelerates its geographical reach following the acquisition of Sigfox. The company’s team has demonstrated focus, foresight and entrepreneurial energy, and we look forward to the next phases of its growth story.”

“Aside from the investments already planned to support business development in strategic markets, we will also use the fresh funds in research and development to further enhance the core low-power 0G capabilities as well as enable cost-effective long-range connectivity dedicated to very low-value assets. Our product portfolio will also be expanded to integrate more LPWAN and satellite technologies, ultimately providing aggregated and clean data through UnaConnect service. The proliferation of new solutions aimed at a broader market will allow our customers to enjoy economies of scale, and the freedom of choice when it comes to means of collecting data from physical assets – that is what the Technology Convergence movement is about.” Philippe Chiu, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of UnaBiz Group commented.

The post UnaBiz Closes Series B at over US$50M with Extension Round Led by SPARX Group appeared first on IoT Business News.

By working with Orange Business Services to add the LoRaWAN network to the Coyote Secure service, initially working with the Sigfox network, Coyote is engaging in large-scale technology convergence.

Coyote Secure allows its tracer to find 91% of its customers’ stolen vehicles in less than 48 hours. To further improve the performance of its offer and reach almost 100%, the French company, known for its driving assistance service, has chosen to integrate the operator Orange’s LoRaWAN network into Coyote Secure, which has been in operation for 2018 with the Sigfox network.

“We are agnostic in terms of technology, our objective is to bring the best to our customers and for this we have chosen the convergence of connectivity”, affirms Jérôme Arnac, marketing director at Coyote.

For Coyote, the major advantage of integrating LoRaWAN is to benefit from additional coverage, reducing the risk of dead zones. “Once the signal is detected, the location is more precise with the two networks to facilitate the work of our teams in the field who validate the exact position of the vehicle”, explains Jérôme Arnac. According to him, the two connectivities are as efficient as the other in the event of jamming or burying. Autonomy is another decisive argument for Coyote: “LPWAN technologies are key to ensuring the lifespan of our tracker, which is four years”, specifies Jérôme Arnac.

“The addition of the LoRaWAN network is included in the continuous improvement of the solution.”

The integration of the network mobilized a team of ten people at Coyote for six months. “Benefiting from dual connectivity required a certain expertise and work to redesign the solution, even if we wanted it to be as minimal as possible”, says the marketing director. An expert from Orange Business Service accompanied them, in particular to interconnect the service with the Orange IoT platform. “We started with a few dozen devices and then expanded to all new products,” explains Pierre-François Valton, Smart Mobility Services, IoT sales director at Orange Business Services.

The main discussions did not focus on technical aspects but on the business model between the two partners, to determine what remuneration to define. “For customers, this will not change anything. We will keep a subscription at 14.99 euros per month or 179 euros per year. The addition of the LoRaWAN network is included in the continuous improvement of the solution”, warns Jérôme Arnac, satisfied to be associated with an operator like Orange to guarantee the sustainability of the solution over the long term. Customers also do not have to worry about the plotter, as it is installed by professionals.

This Coyote project is part of a large-scale deployment. The French company strengthened its expertise in recovering vehicles after theft in 2018 with the acquisition of Traqueur, a specialist in post-theft traceability devices. “Thefts have continued to increase since the end of the confinements linked to the health crisis”, notes Jérôme Arnac, recalling that in 2021, 122,700 vehicles suffered theft. The company is also moving towards an offer dedicated to BtoB, particularly in the construction industry. “There is a strong demand in this sector because, when machines or vehicles containing equipment are stolen, all activity stops”, reveals Jérôme Arnac.

The post Coyote Secure combines LoRa and Sigfox to find stolen vehicles appeared first on IoT Business News.

Sigfox South Africa has officially launched its operations – the next step in enabling the transformational power of Massive Internet of Things (IoT) technologies across the African continent to drive innovation and foster inclusive economic growth and job opportunities.

The Sigfox public 0G Network continues to operate under this new brand, following an extensive restructuring of network licences and assets that SqwidNet formerly managed. Sigfox South Africa is a fully licensed national 0G Network Operator focused on commercialising the country’s prominent and growing Sigfox 0G network coverage.

The Sigfox 0G Network in South Africa has been built over a number of years and is considered a tier 1 network amongst it global operators covering 95% of the population, and 90% of national roads. The newly established network company is backed by notable investors comprising Community Investment Venture Holdings (CIVH), Discovery Insure, Fidelity ADT, Macrocomm, and Buffet Investments.

“The Sigfox 0G technology is a critical connectivity service in South Africa due to its positive and significant impact on a large value chain that depends on its sustainability and viability locally. The investment from all the partners provides a strong platform and support for use case development, adoption and accelerated growth”, said the non-executive director, Sivi Moodley.

Massive IoT is essential to the modern world, relaying crucial data and decisions between physical devices and the digital world. The IoT Industry Council of South Africa (IoTIC) has urged more focus on low-cost, effective new technologies to ensure South Africa is 4IR ready. Sigfox 0G technology has demonstrated IoT can be put to work for communities, people and businesses, including improved security systems, more efficient city services, and automated mining and manufacturing operations.

According to IoT Analytics¹, in 2022, the global IoT market will grow by 18% to 14.4 billion active connections and reach 27 billion connected IoT devices by 2025. However, Massive IoT is still a developing market, full of opportunity and risk. When Sqwidnet launched in 2016 as the licensed Sigfox operator for South Africa, it helped establish the credibility of IoT investments in the country. However, in mid-2021, Sqwidnet’s stakeholders agreed that the company required a fundamental restructuring to incorporate lessons learned over the previous five years.

Sigfox South Africa is the outcome of this restructuring. Working with investors, Sigfox South Africa aligns its operations and strategy to the changing nature of the local IoT market. The Sigfox 0G Network continues to grow to deliver even more value to current and future customers.

“We’ve taken past lessons to heart, but we also learned that our customers are loyal and proactive because they see the direct value Massive IoT creates for them and their customers. In technology, you learn from risks and never lose sight of meaningful, market-relevant innovation. This is the ethos of Sigfox South Africa, and we look forward to helping IoT make even more positive impacts for everyone”, states fellow non-executive director Raymond Ndlovu.

Such a realignment is not unusual in the fast-growing and dynamic IoT market. For example, the Sigfox 0G technology has been recently acquired by UnaBiz², a proven Massive IoT service provider that started as the Sigfox 0G Network Operators in Singapore and Taiwan but has since achieved global success connecting over 10 million devices and servicing 1,500 customers globally.

Henri Bong, CEO and Co-Founder of UnaBiz, says:

“UnaBiz is pleased to welcome Sigfox South Africa to the global 0G Network Operator community. As one of the fastest-growing IoT markets in the MEA region, Massive IoT adoption has accelerated significantly in South Africa over the last few years.”

“We look forward to working closely with Sigfox South Africa to bring down the cost and complexity of massive IoT adoption in a vast number of sectors including energy, manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, logistics, etc…”

Sqwidnet’s customers, now supported by Sigfox SA, enjoy uninterrupted access to the Sigfox 0G Network. Having serviced the South African market and local customers, LPWANs have consistently demonstrated the best reliability, performance, and cost to keep IoT devices online. The ability to provide connectivity to devices without the need for external power sources is a significant win for the African market and its ability to role out digital solutions.

Africa offers many cases where IoT can make a difference, bringing the power of digital technology to all corners of the country and continent. Sigfox South Africa heralds a new era for growing and maturing Massive IoT in South Africa and Africa, a significant catalyst for growing African economies, economic inclusion, community development and personal success.

The post Sigfox South Africa boosts local economy with Massive Internet of Things (IoT) appeared first on IoT Business News.

Sigfox is working on its first commercial development to create an energy harvesting device by collaborating with HT Micron and Nowi to launch a board integrating HT Micron (SiP) and Nowi (PMIC) solutions.

Sigfox, today announces its partnership with HT Micron, a Brazilian expert in advanced semiconductor solutions, and Nowi, a semiconductor company that specializes in the development of energy harvesting power management technology, to explore and unlock the benefits of integrating energy harvesting into Sigfox devices.

This collaboration marks the first step for Sigfox towards a commercial development of energy harvesting modules to equip IoT devices and contribute to more sustainability in IoT. Key use cases are applications in Smart metering, industrial sensoring, asset tracking and air quality monitoring.

During the research phase, HT Micron has worked on creating the innovative semiconductor solution to be integrated with Nowi’s Energy Harvesting PMIC (Power Management Integrated Circuit) designed especially for low power IoT devices. Equipped on Sigfox devices and powered by the 0G technology, this solution will help reduce battery consumption and offer longer autonomy while reducing the total cost of ownership.

Nowi PMIC is designed to efficiently extract power from ambient energy sources like light and vibration to charge a variety of energy storage elements such as a rechargeable battery or a capacitor. It is best suited for most low power applications like distributed IoT sensors and TV remote controls for example.

Chris Juliano, CCO at Nowi, explains:

“The low power consumption of Sigfox solutions is particularly well suited to being powered by ambient energy harvesting. As many Sigfox-based applications require intermittent communication intervals, this allows for trickle charging a storage element with energy harvesting in between transmissions.”

Sigfox and HT Micron have been working together for several years already and HT Micron was identified as a strategic partner for this project as they have the expertise to create innovative modules and they consider energy harvesting essential for IoT mass adoption with sustainability.

“We are glad to take this next step with Sigfox and explore energy harvesting solutions as a new way to create added value to our end customers and help them improve their environmental impact,” says Edelweis Ritt, CIO at HT Micron.

“This collaboration with Nowi and HT Micron is another proof point towards our ambition to create IoT solutions that will help our clients preserve the environment by greatly reducing their energy consumption. We are looking forward to the development of this new kind of devices and to the positive impact they will generate”, says Benjamin Jooris, Client & Ecosystem Success Director at Sigfox.

The first step of this project is a development kit integrating Nowi’s PMIC solution with HT Micron’s Sigfox system-in-package, to be used for testing purposes by R&D and product development teams.

The post First Sigfox energy harvesting module in partnership with HT Micron and Nowi appeared first on IoT Business News.

• The new light beacon, designed and developed by CAR-LITE, will send automatic alerts to the relevant road safety authorities and geolocalize precisely the location of failed vehicles, without the need for Internet connection, Wi-Fi or SIM cards, based on Sigfox 0G network.
• The solution will cover virtually the entire road network, thanks to the scope of Sigfox 0G network, present in 75 countries, and is particularly useful in isolated areas where there is no mobile or Internet connection.
• This light beacon is specifically designed for the Internet of Things (IoT): its data and energy consumption are very low and allow it to offer a more competitive proce thanks to 0G communications.

Sigfox and CAR-LITE, a leading Spanish company in the design and manufacture of emergency signalling beacons for cars, have launched a new smart beacon model base on IoT technology and Sigfox 0G network.

The new beacon has been designed and developed by CAR-LITE and its technology will enable automatic alerts to be sent to the relevant road safety authorities and will precisely geolocate the location of damaged vehicles, without the need for an Internet connection, Wi-Fi or SIM cards, as it is based on Sigfox 0G network, the first global network designed by and for the IoT. Both companies will collaborate to launch this product throughout Europe (Spain pending approval), thanks to the deployment of Sigfox 0G network, already present in 75 countries worldwide.

This solution will allow public and assistance services to be alerted so that they can react more quickly to emergencies and warn other drivers by means of real-time road signs.

The new Sigfox and CAR-LITE model makes it possible to geolocate damaged vehicles by GPS in real time and in a very efficient way, providing very valuable and actionable information to road safety authorities throughout Europe, infrastructure management companies, freight transport or traffic control authorities, among others, speeding up the management and resolution of the incident and accidents.

In addition, CAR-LITE devices based on Sigfox technology are battery operated to ensure independence from a rechargeable battery. The device may be compatible with the connected car platforms of the various competent authorities in each country.

Furthermore, the approach of this solution is specifically designed for the Internet of Things: its data and energy consumption are very low. In addition, both the cost of the Sigfox-based communications device and the cost of communications over the life of the beacon are lower than those of technological solutions used in the past. Moreover, the cost of communications is independent of the country where the beacon is used.

The model created by CAR-LITE is a small round beacon that emits a light visible up to one kilometre away when attached to the roof of the damaged car. The solution does not require getting out of the vehicle to place it, which is safer than traditional warning triangles and will help reduce fatalities in the event of accidents while connecting people, roads, authorities and vehicles.

0G to ensure the safety of drivers at all times

According to Carlos Alonso, CEO of CAR-LITE, and Rebecca Crowe, Managing Director of Sigfox Spain:

“We are delighted to be able to put the scalability and broad scope of our network at the service of a solution that is set to significantly improve safety on our roads, in line with the strategy of the European authorities responsible for road safety, whose objective is to minimise accidents and emissions. We are proud to have been able to help launch a pioneering initiative at European level”.

The post CAR-LITE and Sigfox launch an intelligent light beacon based on the 0G network to replace emergency triangles on the road appeared first on IoT Business News.

We have met with Christophe Fourtet, co-founder and technical director of Sigfox, to discuss short-term challenges and opportunities for IoT technology. Christophe shared with us his views on multiple subjects like IoT security, IoT combined with virtual tech, smart cities and sustainability.

IoT Business News: Why has the importance of security grown in relation to IoT hacking over the last 12 months?

Christophe Fourtet: Security has been an important factor in the IoT landscape since the very first devices appeared on the market. However, with the growth in adoption of IoT devices, we now have more entry points for potential attackers. No longer are only mobiles or PCs vulnerable, but “innocent” light bulbs, cookers, video cameras and more, are attack vectors.

You may remember light bulbs that were the point of entry for attacks. They were using Wi-Fi which served as a relay or bridge for attacks. The market learnt then that access to devices needs to be kept to a strict minimum.

There are bound to be threats that we can’t even imagine yet, but today most of them are relatively well known. The priority is to fully understand what a device is doing. Some institutions in the European standards organization, ETSI for example, have specific forums about security, which explore limiting the possibility of entry.

Manufacturers used to focus on security mechanisms and techniques, and these involved, for example, complex algorithms. These are of limited use if there is an obvious backdoor into the device. Protecting IoT devices is about common sense and simple rules.

IoT Business News: What are the economic benefits of combining IoT with virtual and augmented reality technologies?

Christophe Fourtet: There are two distinct realms in IoT, one for the mass market and the industrial IoT, which Sigfox is involved with. In this sector, IoT equals statistics and data- manipulation and crunching. Against a landscape of machines, systems and processes users can extract very simple data, and via data manipulation, obtain metadata which provides a new virtual landscape of your situation.

By using multiple low data rate devices, statistics are used to build virtual landscapes. This is important as this is where revenue will be generated. ROI from basic data exists, but it is limited compared to what can be built through metadata. We are gathering metadata in our network too to build a kind of virtual, augmented reality. The Sigfox network could be regarded as a huge browser radio sensor. That’s why we use cognitive radio as each base station is sensing and measuring the spectrum. It’s a kind of radar, combining sensor data to create a radio landscape.

For example, in our premises in Toulouse, we can detect new buildings, which are being constructed near us. When looking at statistics from the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) over the weeks, we can see the changes captured by low throughput industrial IoT devices.

I can imagine that technology giants like Amazon will build a lot of metadata, combined to create a form of virtual reality. A key driver for success is the number of devices. With many more devices than phones and classic connectivity devices in the future, there will be an opportunity to collect more statistics.

IoT Business News: How has smart cities’ use of IoT become a key ingredient in improving sustainability and quality of living? Can you provide any examples?

Christophe Fourtet: There has been a slow start as market conditions are unique for each city. With the rollout of smart cities, energy consumption and living conditions can be drastically improved. However, some cities don’t know where to start.

We have a customer “connecting” streetlights which are learning about the status of the street. Although this use case is simple from a technical standpoint, it is complex from a use case point of view. The city wants to know the state of the LED, consumption, and remote control. The device is also building a profile of the street. For example, at times of high foot traffic, intensity of the light can be heightened. The goal is to make people feel safer in the street. The city can ensure that at 4 am, lights switch on if people are detected. The intensity of the light can be changed depending on the number of cars and people detected. Of course, at all times data privacy is respected, so no cameras capture detailed images of the people and cars, and are rather based on motion.

Metering is part of smart cities. While meters were rolled out many years ago, they will be renewed, improved and simplified over the next few years to bring more benefits. Many applications are undertaking PoCs at the moment. For instance, sensors in the walls identify energy flow, temperature gradient, and data can be used to improve heating systems and create smart buildings. With 1,000 sensors in building walls at $2 per sensor, building owners build a cartography of the building, to help improve living and working conditions in the building. As we gain more data from buildings, we can make them more environmentally friendly.

Specific smart city use cases including air quality monitoring in the Fira de Barcelona, which installed Cellnex temperature and humidity sensors to improve visitor comfort. Also, Eco-startup GreenCityZen connected 5,000 drains (entry points into the river network) on the Marseille sewerage network.

IoT is also accumulating data and statistics via simple devices, which provide the metadata essential for improvements. While in ancient times information about buildings was passed on orally, we are losing this type of experience. Instead, we are short of time and need to rely on technology to share knowledge. This in-depth understanding of buildings can be delivered via IoT.

IoT Business News: Are there any new sustainability and renewable energy measures you can tell us about that have come about entirely thanks to IoT?

Christophe Fourtet: IoT is being used for CO2 measurement and management. For instance, some companies are trying to restock CO2 in the soil/ground and can only do this with IoT. Gathered from industrial processes, it’s turned into liquid CO2. Once in this form, it is important to understand through IoT intelligence, where to put it, for example, potentially in soil where oil previously existed to create more.

For sustainability, there are several simpler applications, like controlling renewable energy such as solar panels. Currently, most panels are not connected, but with radio sensors, energy firms are able to monitor the panels to increase efficiency, identify when they are dirty, whether they are working well and more. IoT measures sustainable energy sources, even if they are scattered across different locations. Introducing IoT on a massive scale is possible, but only once a full analysis of existing devices, requirements and goals is completed.

IoT Business News: Why has Sigfox shifted from an IoT network operator to an IoT cloud provider and what is the rationale behind that move?

Christophe Fourtet: We are not just an IoT network operator or IoT cloud provider. Sigfox is an IoT communication service provider of an ultra-low cost, ultra-low power solution for asset tracking and monitoring. We are supported by an entire ecosystem, our Sigfox Operators, device makers, channel partners and solution providers to deliver our solution.

Sigfox created the network technology, while the Sigfox network operators build and operate the network, while maintaining and selling the connectivity to clients. As Sigfox Corporate, we maintain and improve technical aspects of the network and respond to requests from our operators. Our network is complex, and it will evolve further to deliver new properties, based on the data we collect.

IoT Business News: Can you give us a full update on Sigfox’s achievements and figures: staff, number of connected devices?

Christophe Fourtet: Sigfox has a presence in 75 countries, with 19.1 million connected devices using our network to deliver 76.5 million messages per day. We have 275 employees worldwide (2,000 including Sigfox Operators).

The post Interview with Christophe Fourtet, co-founder of Sigfox appeared first on IoT Business News.

This new strategic partnership will contribute to Sigfox’s efforts to tailor cost efficient and performant services adapted for the massive IoT, and open a whole new range of applications, particularly in the supply chain and logistics industries.

Sigfox, a world’s leading IoT (Internet of Things) communication service provider and 0G network pioneer, has announced today its partnership with Skyhook, the leading independent provider of Wi-Fi, cellular, and hybrid positioning.

The collaboration is set to improve the quality and performance of existing tracking services on the Sigfox network globally, while delivering enhanced customer experience at an accessible cost.

As part of its services, Skyhook offers Wi-Fi location solutions, which can be used on its own or as part of a larger hybrid positioning system. This software-based, power-efficient approach uses Wi-Fi, GPS/GNSS, and cellular signals to track location, and uses over 6 billion geolocated Wi-Fi access points, over 110 million geolocated cells, and 1.5 billion geolocated IP addresses for unmatched reliability and accuracy. Through its unique approach, Skyhook’s Precision Location solution is able to accurately locate connected devices anywhere in the world.

By integrating global coverage from Skyhook’s positioning services with Sigfox’s existing Atlas Wi-Fi service, companies will be able to locate their assets in indoor environments, where other positioning methods can fall short. Customers directly benefit from the integration of Skyhook services, removing the need for additional infrastructure, regardless of the size and quantity of assets.

Atlas Wi-Fi, Sigfox’s geolocation service for massive IoT applications is specifically optimized to support global supply chain and logistics applications and combines two technologies and data sources – the Sigfox network and Wi-Fi infrastructure. Accordingly, Sigfox can provide one single location service in all types of geographic environments, without GPS.

Additionally, as Wi-Fi-based location tracking consumes less battery than using GPS, this new partnership will help extend the service life of IoT tracking solutions, thus reducing maintenance costs.

Craig Waggy, CEO of Skyhook, said:

“Skyhook is proud to partner with Sigfox to ensure accurate location information is available regardless of whether an asset is inside a warehouse, outside in the lot or in transit. Integrating Skyhook’s technology into Sigfox’s global location platform is an important next step as Sigfox maintains its position as a recognized global leader in the IoT space.”

“This partnership with Skyhook will help our clients gain better visibility of their supply chains, and ultimately provide a better service to their end customers. Understanding the exact location of assets globally without the additional costs associated with new infrastructure will no doubt drive business efficiencies. We see major traction around postal, retail and automotive use cases and Skyhook will help us provide the right quality of services for these key customers,” added Benjamin Mazet, Asset Tracking Director at Sigfox.

The post Sigfox Signs A Global Partnership With Skyhook To Improve Delivery of Geolocation Services appeared first on IoT Business News.

GreenCityZen’s solution and Sigfox’s 0G network provide the Marseille Métropole sanitation department (Seramm) with an economical and ecological connected storm drain network.

Eco-startup GreenCityZen, a greentech pioneer in IoT for industry and smart city, has selected Sigfox to connect 5,000 downspouts (entry points into the river network) on the Marseille sewerage network.

The technology from Sigfox, one of the world’s leading providers of IoT communication services and the originator of the 0G network, allows Seramm to retrieve data from sensor-equipped gutters to improve their performance and reduce the number of interventions.

Although drains are designed to collect rainwater, they also collect waste abandoned on the public highway, which causes operational problems and pollution. Drains clogged by waste can no longer fulfill their primary purpose, and there is also an ecological impact as waste accumulated in the drains transfers into the natural environment during rainfall.

To address these issues, GreenCityZen has developed the HummBox platform for the continuous monitoring of stormwater drains in sewerage networks. The application detects waste levels, and can therefore “decarbonize” operation and cleaning of gutters, as it is no longer necessary to travel to determine if a storm drain is full. The startup called on Sigfox France and its 0G network to collect the data sent back by the sensors placed in drains in a real-time, simple and sustainable way.

Self-powered sensors connect directly to the Internet via the Sigfox network, and each drain is logged in advance within the application where details are recorded, including: a description, images, the condition of the instrumentation, its fill rate and any necessary interventions. Before this collaboration began, the city of Marseille carried out 50,000 inspection visits, only to clean 50% of the drains, while others lay empty.

Deploying IoT has transformed Seramm operators’ jobs by providing better data on the drains across the city and therefore immediate visibility of the assets requiring maintenance, as well as a better insight into the type of maintenance required without needing an initial site visit. In addition, the data collected provides useful statistics to the sanitation department and ultimately improves its performance.

Alexandre Boudonne, director of operations at GreenCityZen, said:
“The IoT, the latest technology in the digital transformation of our economies, has had a considerable impact. At GreenCityZen we see it as an opportunity for the environment and, with the support of Sigfox, we have been able to implement new use cases to improve the performance of the Seramm while helping to preserve our planet.”

“Sigfox’s mission is to digitize the physical world while committing to harnessing and delivering the benefits of IoT in ways that sustain and respect our environment. This collaboration with GreenCityZen is particularly well suited to this mission and allows us to support a high-potential “made in France” startup,” adds Patrick Cason, CEO of Sigfox France.

By September 2021, in Marseille, 2,000 drains were already equipped with the HummBox solution and connected to the Sigfox network. Another 3,000 should follow by 2022.

These intelligent solutions should soon be rolled out nationally and then exported internationally. SUEZ has also called on GreenCityZen to install other types of sensors in vacuum sewer networks. The objective is to monitor the frequency of valve opening and report any problems to the operator. The Sigfox 0G network allows the sensors to communicate, even though they are sometimes buried or under a cast iron plate.

The post GreenCityZen and Sigfox France connect the city of Marseille’s storm drains appeared first on IoT Business News.

Sigfox, the world’s leading IoT communication service provider and 0G network pioneer, has teamed up with Stripe to deliver subscription-based IoT.

In response to demand from clients, from start-ups to R&D teams in large companies, Sigfox is now providing 0G subscriptions for purchase online, with only a few clicks and a credit card required.

Sigfox selected Stripe to provide the online payment infrastructure. Clients can choose between two offers: Discovery and Enterprise.

IoT devices connect with Sigfox’s 0G network using the internet and transmit small amounts of data over long ranges. This low-cost network does not require expensive SIM cards, and now offers flexibility in terms of pricing.

Discovery provides a pricing for up to 10,000 devices and is based on the number of devices and messages, whether Atlas Native, the Sigfox network-based location service, is selected. Clients have up to one year to activate their subscriptions, then one entire year of fully prepaid 0G connectivity. Enterprise is for larger implementations, over 10,000 devices, and brings the additional benefits of a longer activation period, multi-year subscriptions, an account manager and dedicated technical assistance.

Nicolas Poussier, Product Manager at Sigfox comments: “Stripe has been instrumental in democratising access to online payments and payouts for millions of companies across the planet, making it easier than ever for companies to expand into some of the largest and fastest growing markets in the world and thus accelerate the internet economy. This resonated with Sigfox’s mission to make the Internet of Things available to all. With outstanding uptime, a flawless user experience, strong European foundations and new countries launched every quarter, Stripe’s ethos and ambitions were obviously aligned with ours.”

Among the 75 countries covered by Sigfox, companies from 28 different countries (and counting) can now buy Sigfox 0G subscriptions online: https://buy.sigfox.com/buy

Thousands of companies have been joining the network every year. All are solving problems with 0G that couldn’t be addressed before in a practical way, for example, predictive maintenance of equipment, asset tracking in logistics, food storage monitoring, wildlife protection, and many other use cases.

The post Sigfox teams up with Stripe for subscription-based IoT appeared first on IoT Business News.

Off-grid energy distributor improves efficiency, sustainability and lowers costs with real-time asset monitoring.

SHV Energy and Sigfox are rolling out a global LPG tank level monitoring solution.

The implementation has started in France, Belgium and Germany and is already generating lower carbon emissions and improved customer satisfaction. Over the next three years, 50,000 units will be rolled out worldwide. Sigfox’s IoT (Internet of Things) asset monitoring capability enables SHV Energy to reduce the cost of tank level monitoring, while increasing efficiency and productivity.

SHV Energy, a leading global distributor of off-grid energy such as LPG, LNG, biofuels and renewables, with 30 million customers in 25 countries and 16,700 employees, selected to work with Sigfox, a world’s leading IoT communication service provider and 0G network pioneer.

SHV Energy set-up a Telemetry Centre of Excellence and used Sigfox’ solutions and partner Aton SB S.p.A to deliver a homogeneous, global solution for tank level monitoring that provides sophisticated data analytics, and connected smart devices for daily tank level readings. SHV Energy can now optimize delivery routes and schedules, and has improved sustainability by reducing the firm’s carbon footprint.

Additionally, the Sigfox-based solution is considerably more cost-effective than cellular alternatives. Savings stem from low-cost components, no SIM cards, and modest connectivity costs.

Simon Gilchrist, Global Programme Lead, SHV Energy, explains:

“Data collection is critical to the success of our business. Our efforts to streamline this process have been boosted tremendously through the Sigfox solution. We are now able to gather information at an extremely low-cost point, and this enables the wider scale rollout of a homogeneous tank monitoring system across the globe.”

“Sigfox has exceeded our expectations. Its network and technology partners will help to meet our strategic objectives of harnessing the power of telemetry to the fullest.”

“The global Sigfox 0G network has delivered once again when it comes to providing connectivity solutions that offer a direct environmental benefit. Across multiple territories, and with the support of our Sigfox Operators, our solution for SHV Energy is helping to lower CO2 emissions as remote tank level monitoring ultimately reduces the number of overall site visits and eliminates unnecessary visits,” adds Ian Terblanche, Senior Vice President of Global Sales at Sigfox.

The post SHV Energy implements global remote LPG tank monitoring with Sigfox Netherlands’ 0G network appeared first on IoT Business News.

This new partnership will help industries better harvest the value of data.

Sigfox, the 0G network pioneer and the world’s leading IoT (Internet of Things) communication service provider, today announced its partnership with Coral, Google’s platform of hardware components, software tools, and models for building devices with Artificial Intelligence at the edge.

As further sectors integrate IoT devices into their activities, more data than ever is being collected and industry leaders are struggling to find fast and cost-efficient ways to transport and harness it.

To solve this challenge, Coral provides the technology to run a machine learning model locally, at the edge, without needing to send large amounts of data to the cloud.

The addition of Sigfox to the Coral Partnership Program will create room for innovation with the possibility to integrate the Coral Edge TPU in an IoT device, making it possible to run inferences locally and capture completely new information from the field. This reduces costs and minimizes energy usage.

Once the raw data is processed and its value has been harvested at the device edge, the Sigfox 0G network will transport it rapidly and at a very low cost to the customer’s platform.

The innovations from this new partnership will be applicable to a number of industrial use cases such as smart buildings, traffic monitoring and anomaly detection. For example, Coral-enabled sensors can help understand population flow in parks, streets, workplaces, or retail centers while preserving people’s privacy using local AI, a fast, reliable process that keeps user data out of reach. Feeding that data into a larger model can help distribute shared resources efficiently and improve incident response.

The combination of local AI and IoT can also come in handy on a production line, where users can extract data from long HD video streams and detect product defects. The cost to do this is typically very high but using Coral’s solution coupled with Sigfox devices and 0G network, costs and latency will be reduced, while data privacy is improved by enabling data refinement upstream.

“At Coral, we believe efficient AI starts with enabling capabilities at the edge. The Coral Partner Program is intended to expand the edge AI ecosystem with our partners to support a broader range of industrial, IoT and cloud-based solutions by enabling deployment at these edge nodes. The addition of Sigfox to our ecosystem does this by allowing engineers to leverage the Sigfox 0G network, making gathering and streaming the right data from remote, low power or low connectivity settings easier without having to sacrifice efficiency or privacy along the way.” said Ajay K. Nair, Product Evangelist, Machine Learning Solutions at Google.

Guillaume Simenel, VP Product and Strategic Partners at Sigfox, said:

“After signing a partnership with Google Cloud earlier this year, we are delighted to start a collaboration with Coral and are looking forward to developing new solutions that will help all kinds of industries harvest the true value of their data.”

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iWire announces a Series A $34 million funding round, led by Noor Capital. The company will expand, over the coming years, its geographic presence across 12 countries, by building the digital communication infrastructure to power massive IoT.

iWire has so far raised more than $47 million, over the past three years. Bpifrance, the French sovereign wealth fund and a leading Export Credit Agency in Europe (Bpifrance Assurance Export acting on behalf of the French State), participated with Noor Capital in this funding round by granting a long-term equipment purchase option to iWire, through a Buyer Credit agreement.

Launched in April 2018, iWire builds country-wide communications networks to power massive IoT solutions, using Sigfox technology, 0G network pioneer and leading IoT service provider, since 2010. The IoT network allows large scale businesses such as utility companies, smart cities, smart facilities and logistics service providers to deploy massive IoT solutions in a fast, cost-effective and highly scalable way.

The demand for dedicated IoT networks is growing world-wide and considering billions of connected devices, the timing of the network deployment, is highly significant. iWire has already deployed the Sigfox network in the UAE in 2019. With these new funds, iWire wishes to extend its network coverage over new markets such as India, as well as Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey and Tunisia. Starting next year, iWire will be expanding its network to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and a few more countries in the Middle East, Africa are on the roadmap.

In addition to its network expansion and IoT service offerings, iWire is developing IoT devices under its own brand “iWire Technologies”. The company has great ambitions in this new business, as the market for connected devices is experiencing exponential growth. Forecasts show that Global IoT market estimated today to $200 billion is expected to reach $1.2 trillion by 2025. The number of connected devices estimated today at 35 billion may reach 75 billion over the next three to five years.

iWire is aiming to offer a wide range of high-quality connected products such as utility meters, gas sensors, health watch, smart ID, smoke detectors, container trackers and streetlighting solutions. To expand its activity, iWire has targeted high-volume industries that use these connected products the most such as: Utilities, Smart Cities, Smart Facilities, Digital Health and Smart Logistics. The strategy is to develop IoT products and sell them through distribution channels on a global scale. Having one of the largest communication networks, designed for massive IoT across multiple geographies, is highly synergistic.

To achieve this mission iWire seems to be well suited, as its knowledge of deploying the IoT networks has enabled it to understand the various challenges faced by the industry and specially to focus on the opportunities not only in emerging markets, but also in Europe and in the US, over the years to come.

“At iWire, we offer to our customers, an alternative to legacy connectivity solutions, which enables successful digital transformation at a lower cost of ownership. Our solutions contribute to our customers’ business efficiencies as well as their satisfaction. This investment is only the beginning of our journey and a great sign that we are on the right track. We are proud to have the trust of such an investor and we will continue expanding our network and our products to transform the digital infrastructure in the region.” explained Ahmed Fasih Akhtar, the CEO of iWire.

Jeremy Prince, the CEO of Sigfox, adds:

“Companies and organizations across the world are embracing IoT and 0G to transform the way they operate. We are thrilled to have a great company like iWire amongst our incredible community of Sigfox Operators. Our unique international network already allows customers to benefit from 0G in a seamless way in 72+ countries. The new markets iWire is adding offer tremendous potential and we look forward to a very successful collaboration.”

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Telecom operator Citymesh acquires the Belgian Sigfox operator ENGIE M2M

With this acquisition, Citymesh completes its wireless portfolio with 0G connectivity. The Sigfox network is ideally suited for IoT projects that use ultra-low bandwidth and need long battery life. The global roaming capabilities will allow Citymesh to support both national and international customers.

Citymesh 0G

The choice for the Sigfox network was made deliberately. Compared to other 0G networks, Sigfox offers ultra-low power consumption combined with low hardware and network costs. This network type is ideally suited for digital water meters, track & trace applications, and challenging locations such as concrete or underground structures.

A 0G network efficiently sends small data packets over low frequencies that reach further than, for example, WiFi. In Belgium, the Sigfox network currently connects more than 250,000 IoT devices.

Strategic acquisition

With this acquisition of the Sigfox network, Citymesh now owns a national IoT network in addition to its 4G and 5G licences. This 0G technology is perfect for IoT applications thanks to its lower power consumption and low bandwidth.”The acquisition of a national IoT network further shapes our ambition as the fourth telecom operator in the B2B market,” states Mitch De Geest, CEO of Citymesh. “With this network, we can support customers’ IoT projects, using a single contract, anywhere in the world.”

In December 2020, Citymesh announced a new majority shareholder, Cegeka. Thanks to this strategic partnership, Citymesh is now able to further invest in and expand its technology portfolio. Mitch De Geest: “Citymesh will focus on installing, monitoring and connecting sensors. From that point on Cegeka can work on the normalization, consolidation and visualization of the data to optimize business processes.”

Stijn Bijnens, CEO of Cegeka:

“The expansion of the wireless portfolio with 0G connectivity creates added value for Cegeka. It offers additional possibilities for our IT solutions. We can collect data from our customers via the Sigfox IoT network. Our specialists in the field of data science and data intelligence can subsequently help our customers to use that data in a smart way to make better decisions.”

Strengthened market position

Citymesh already offers IoT services and will further strengthen its market position with this IoT network.

“Now, we can offer all communication technologies, from 0G to 5G,” says Mitch De Geest: “Our customers, ranging from cities to enterprises, can rely on us for all-in-one solutions, completely tailored to their budget and needs. For example, a city can opt for a WiFi network in the public library, smart city furniture in a market square and noise sensors in busy streets to map out noise pollution. A company may choose a mobile private 5G network combined with smart sensors. For every connectivity question, we have an appropriate solution.”

Shared ambitions

The ENGIE M2M team, existing customers and projects are incorporated into Citymesh. “The operational and commercial synergies are clear. The ambition to be trusted IoT advisors for our customers and partners was always there. Through this acquisition, our customers will have access to a wide range of technologies and in doing so we extend the value proposition,” explains Dirk Indigne, CEO of ENGIE M2M.

Jeremy Prince, CEO of Sigfox: “We have had the pleasure of working with ENGIE M2M for the past 6 years in Belgium. They have done a great job deploying the network and accelerating the adoption of Sigfox in this country. We are very excited to see them move towards the next phase with Citymesh. It also illustrates that 0G is a perfect addition to other technologies and that most often we “complete” rather than “compete”! We warmly congratulate all parties and look forward to continuing working together as massive IoT is becoming a reality.”

The acquisition is accompanied by the exit of all shareholders. Neither parties are releasing any financial details.

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French company Safecube, born from a joint venture between Michelin, Sigfox France and Argon & Co in 2019, is launching its new LocaTrack asset tracking solution with IoT technology.

Safecube continues its development in the supply chain ecosystem by providing visibility on transport flows and now assets by leveraging digital innovations such as IoT.

Its initial solution proposed real-time visibility on multimodal flows with an IoT approach. Michelin was the first to use Safecube’s IoT service.

Today, the company is diversifying by creating an asset tracking solution, LocaTrack. This solution will track and monitor assets, while the first Safecube solution provides visibility over supply chain flows.

What is LocaTrack?

Almost two years after the launch of its first flow tracking solution, Safecube expertise has expanded to include asset tracking.
The purpose is to offer a global view of the fleet using an intuitive interface for monitoring assets activity. Thanks to trackers positioned on assets and connected to the Sigfox 0G network, it is now possible to know in real-time the exact location of a trailer, a pallet or an industrial tool. Geolocation, asset tracking, fleet maintenance management, etc., the benefits involved are multiple.

This platform integrates directly into the customer’s information system. It allows to track the assets, to monitor their condition (full, empty, cold, hot, etc.) and to optimize their management in a simple way. Safecube’s objective behind this new solution is to make asset tracking and monitoring more accessible and affordable.

Waël Cheaib, CEO of Safecube, says:

“This solution is the logical next step in our goods tracking solution. By democratizing asset tracking, especially for non-motorized assets, we are enabling logistics and industrial players to better exploit their assets.”

The Sigfox network, a key differentiator for Safecube

The Sigfox 0G network is one of the key differentiators for Safecube, offering low bandwidth to retrieve just the data needed for the visibility issues specific to the supply chain. It allows low energy consumption, a longer tracker life (up to several years), and a low cost.

“How can IoT be a game-changer in supply chain applications? Firstly, by providing visibility beyond company borders. In the past, end-to-end visibility was limited by the cost of the solutions needed to capture relevant and valuable data. The return on investment was simply not achievable. Technology like Sigfox is a game-changer because it captures relevant data at minimum cost. Secondly, by making it possible to capture this significant data, in the right place and at the right time, in a simple way, without impacting the declared infrastructures or installing a new one. You can’t handle what you can’t measure! LocaTrack allows companies to detect the reality of their business to make informed & relevant decisions,” says Patrick Cason, General Manager of Sigfox France.

A platform secured by Microsoft’s cloud architecture

Safecube has chosen to maximize the security of the entire data recovery process. The architecture of the Sigfox 0G network and its data transmission protocol from the trackers to the platform has reinforced security.

The company has chosen Microsoft Azure services including Azure IoT Hub for its platform. Azure is not only a flexible and highly available infrastructure, but it is also strongly secured: Each datacenter is physically protected by multi-layered protection, with end-to-end security, from Network, Servers and applications, to data encryption. Therefore, this infrastructure secures the data transmitted to the end customer.

The LocaTrack solution is already being deployed with several large industrial companies. Today, LocaTrack is part of a larger project to diversify Safecube’s solutions. A new chapter for the company.

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