In further proof of South Australia’s reputation as the nation’s most tech-savvy region, it is set to become the first state to be fully connected with a dedicated Internet of Things (IoT) network.
French global IoT network provider Sigfox, is currently rolling out its network throughout Australia and recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the South Australian Government, through Investment Attraction South Australia, which will assist the network’s rollout across the state.
Through an IoT network, everyday devices including household appliances, watches and cars can communicate via the Internet with other devices, vehicles, buildings and other infrastructure embedded with electronics, software and sensors to perform a function. Researchers estimate that by 2020 there will be 50 billion IoT devices installed around the world, creating a $3 trillion dollar industry.
The Sigfox network will be deployed by Sydney-based company Thinxtra who have already made Adelaide a priority through the city’s established IoT and Smart City ecosystems. The network will be deployed not only in the metropolitan area, but throughout regional and rural South Australia.
The low-cost, long-range IoT network will bring significant benefits to the state’s regional and rural farmers, schools, businesses and local government including greater efficiencies and productivity.
Minister for Trade and Investment Martin Hamilton-Smith said South Australia is pleased to be working closely with Sigfox to deploy this world-leading infrastructure. “This new technology will allow South Australia to generate an IoT ecosystem second to none in Australia,” Mr Hamilton-Smith said. “It also fits with the state’s transformation as an innovative and creative economy, finding new ways of thinking and doing things as we move towards high-tech activities that will create the jobs and industries of the future.”
CEO of Thinxtra Loic Barancourt said the Sigfox network is now live in Adelaide and the company already has strong partners in South Australia. “The local ecosystem of device makers and solutions providers are gearing up to service major customers with Sigfox-ready IoT solutions,” Mr Barancourt said. “With this exciting initiative, South Australia is on track to become the first IoT region in the entire southern hemisphere.”
About Sigfox
Sigfox is the world’s leading provider of global communication solutions powering the Internet of Things (IoT). Its solutions introduce a game-changing approach for device-to-cloud communications by making it possible for devices to send and receive data over the Internet without the need to manage complex connections or SIM cards, as the Sigfox network and devices simply listen in and capture specifically formatted radio messages from around the globe, needing something as simple as a silicon chip that you find in a remote control. The unique Sigfox solutions enable devices to consume so little energy that soon batteries will become redundant and energy harvesting solutions will power data transmission.
The vision of the company is to “Make Things Come Alive”. By giving a voice to the physical world we live in, and connecting it to the Cloud, Sigfox allows objects to play a role in our social and economic development.
Currently present in 25 countries (Japan has just been announced today), and on track to reach over 60 by 2018. Millions of connected objects are already registered on the network across all five continents, enabling companies to accelerate their digital transformation, develop new services and create value.
For more information, visit www.sigfox.com and follow us on Twitter @SIGFOX.
About Thinxtra
Thinxtra is empowering Australia and New Zealand’s Internet of Things by deploying SIGFOX world-leading LPWAN connectivity as well as building a full ecosystem of IoT solutions and services to enable the non-connected to connect, to increase productivity, accelerate decision making, improve quality of service and solve problems in an economic and connected manner.
Thinxtra was launched in 2015 and is backed by a consortium of strategic investors including cornerstone investor Rakon Limited, a NZX-listed high-tech leader in innovation of communications technology. The network roll out in Australia and New Zealand is well on track to meet its target of covering 95% of the ANZ population with SIGFOX connectivity by the end of 2017.
Follow us on Twitter @Thinxtra.
Thinxtra Contact:
Renald Gallis – VP Marketing & Ecosystem
[email protected]
+61 404 894 960
