Cook Islands to feature a LoRaWAN® network for water and energy management, local street light operation and more.
Semtech Corporation announced a joint collaboration with ICTnexus, an information communications technology and Internet of Things (IoT) solution and service provider, to bring LoRaWAN® connectivity to the Cook Islands.
As part of the ICTnexus Smart Islands project, an IoT platform will feature Semtech’s LoRa® devices as well as a LoRaWAN network for the Island’s infrastructure. Implementing LoRaWAN allows for several smart island use cases including energy metering, water management, air quality and weather stations, street light operation, asset tracking, and emergency notifications (tsunami sirens).
“Scalability was key in choosing the right technology to develop the Cook Islands into truly smart islands,” said Tai Kauraka Tangaroa, chief executive officer at ICTnexus.
“As we start with Rarotonga to launch, building IoT infrastructure across 15 islands is no simple task, but the strong capabilities of Semtech’s LoRa devices and LoRaWAN standard provided an ease of deployment and scalability this comprehensive project requires to succeed. ICTnexus and Semtech are bringing the smart island concept to life with the Cook Islands.”
According to ICTnexus, this deployment is the first energy management systems leveraging LoRaWAN on the Pacific Islands. The long distance communication capability of LoRaWAN is ideal for this type of project, connecting all IoT-enabled devices for applications for the Island’s power grid, utility meters, gas meters, turbidity sensors for the water treatment plant, water flow and treatment sensors, water tank level sensors, waste water monitors, and smart water meters.
In addition, one of the main applications in connection with the Cook Island Climate Change Program is energy monitoring and management. All aforementioned applications will also feature a management platform for operators to view data in real time to maintain the Island’s operations.
“The concept of a smart island is no longer a concept as the potential of LoRa and the LoRaWAN standard continues to be embraced worldwide,” said Marc Pégulu, vice president of IoT product marketing and strategy for Semtech’s Wireless and Sensing Products Group. “The Cook Islands’ investment for a robust IoT-based infrastructure with LoRaWAN is a great move to improve the lives of its citizens.”
