Sigfox completed the rollout of an Internet of Things (IoT) network for Irish telecoms provider VT Networks in under eight months -- a move Sigfox stated makes Ireland the sixth European country where it has rolled out its proprietary low-power, wide area (LPWA) IoT technology.
VT Networks is utilising the IoT network to provide subscription-based IoT services to Irish businesses with guaranteed service level agreements. The deployment sees Ireland join France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg on Sigfox's list of European rollouts.
Sigfox said there is strong demand from Irish businesses for IoT services including: smart metering, in particular water meters and leak detection; home security systems; smoke alarms that send alerts via an app; tracking and recovery of stolen farm equipment; sensors on gates that alert farmers if they are opened; and telemetry devices to monitor machines.
"Irish businesses and farmers have been quick to understand the benefits that the Sigfox dedicated IoT network provides," explained Mark Bannon, CEO of VT Networks.
The telecoms service provider plans to launch "programmes that further integrate the network throughout the company," Bannon added.
One such programme VT Networks has in the pipeline for early July is a workshop offering IoT start ups and developers the chance to prototype applications on the Sigfox network. The telecoms service provider held a similar event earlier in 2016.
The company also plans to establish an academic IoT programme with the National University of Ireland offering students access to free hardware, and Sigfox subscriptions and licenses to the company's platforms.
Rodolphe Baronnet-Frugès, EVP of networks and operators at Sigfox, said VT Networks is taking an "entrepreneurial approach to implementing IoT connectivity" and predicted the Irish telecoms company "will set an example for other countries as Sigfox continues its worldwide expansion."
Sigfox recently stated that its IoT network is operating or being deployed in 19 countries globally, as it announced its expansion into Finland through a collaboration with Connected Finland.
The France-headquartered company also recently struck a deal with Atari covering the manufacture of IoT products designed to connect to Sigfox's network.
For more:
- see this Sigfox announcement
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