Smart City

Smart City

Friday, September 30, 2016

What are the main differences between SigFox and LoRa technologies?

LoRa uses CSS (Chirp spread spectrum), Sigfox uses UNB (Ultra narrowband). It means that Sigfox signal has higher spectral efficiency and can mitigate the noise better. Sigfox uses DBPSK (Differential BPSK) for uplink & GFSK for downlink.
LoRa is owned by Semtech and thus, you have to use Semtech modules for your development. Sigfox is sharing their reference design with chip vendors, so everyone with Sigfox certification can sell the chips and get share of LPWAN "revolution".
Both came out of France!
Both have star topology.
Both use unlicensed ISM band.
Sigfox has higher range and one BS can connect much more devices.
Sigfox announced that they're entering 100 cities in the US! In April 2016, they've also announced their roll out plans in Australia & NZ, Brazil, Oman etc. LoRa is still dominant in Europe and it's deployment is up the the community. You can also buy your own base station (for 500Euro+) and use it.
Sigfox is very practical for infrequent transmissions and offers longer battery life. LoRa uses more bandwidth.
Both are trying to be the global IoT network and we'll see it in the future. Operators are leaning on NB-IoT & LTE-M, so we'll see who wins the "IoT war" in the future.
Using LoRa is free. Sigfox is almost free (costs 1 Euro per device per year).
LoRa has weaker security compared to Sigfox. Sigfox is good to prevent replay and man-in-the-middle attacks. Uses AES encryption with HMACs with private key that's embedded in the device + some sequence number. Though, this's not a big deal as 12 bytes of small packets cannot carry critical data (e.g. credit card info, pwd etc.).

Source: Quora

Friday, September 23, 2016

Projecting the "Things" Behind the Internet of Things


Internet of Things in One Diagram



Matt Turck, a venture capitalist at FirstMark, has mapped out the Internet of Things Landscape for 2016.
Matt notes "The IoT today is largely at this inflection point where “the future is already here but it is not evenly distributed”. From ingestibles, wearables, AR/VR headsets to connected homes and factories, drones, autonomous cars and smart cities, a whole new world (and computing paradigm) is emerging in front of us. But as of right now, it just feels a little patchy, and it doesn’t always look good, or work great – yet."
The chart above is great, but it's his thoughtful and detailed blog post that's definitely worth your time. He covers the booming investment, the seemingly glacial pace for the end user, jockeying by large corporations, and what it all means for start-ups.

Source:Matt Turck,FirstMark 

Vodafone completes the world’s first trial of standardised NB-IoT on a live commercial network

Engineers from Vodafone and Huawei have completed the first over-the-air connection on a live network using standardised NB-IoT. The commercial trial took place in Madrid, Spain.  
NB-IoT is an industrial grade Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) network layer that will connect millions of everyday objects and will bring the Internet of Things (IoT) to life.  
The connection was successfully completed on 19 September 2016 at 14:11 CET. The engineers used a live 4G base station that supports NB-IoT technology. The connection was made using the 800 MHz licenced spectrum frequency band.
The test is the last important milestone before the commercial launch of NB-IoT in 2017.
NB-IoT is designed to connect objects in difficult to reach locations that have low power requirements and that have been too expensive to connect previously. Importantly, NB-IoT also offers enterprises the reliability and safeguards they need as it operates in licenced spectrum and provides the same levels of security to 4G.
NB-IoT will be supported by over 20 of the world’s largest mobile operators, who provide communications to over 2.9 billion customers and geographically serve over 90% of the IoT market.
The NB-IoT specification was finalised as a global standard by 3GPP in June 2016 and Vodafone is the first to complete a trial of standardised NB-IoT on a live commercial network.
Matt Beal, Vodafone’s Group Director of Technology Architecture & Strategy, commented:
“This first successful trial of NB-IoT on a live commercial network is a significant technology milestone on the path towards a world with billions of devices connected at extremely low cost with minimal power requirements to mobile networks. NB-IoT has strong support as the industrial LPWA technology to support our enterprise customers. This successful trial demonstrates Vodafone’s commitment and ability to bring this technology to market early in 2017.”
Edward Deng, President of Wireless Network Product Line at Huawei, said:
“With our decade-long strategic partnership with Vodafone, the first live call using standardised NB-IoT marks a significant milestone in our long term relationship. Working with Vodafone, we have successfully achieved standardisation of NB-IoT and established the world’s first Open Lab to contribute to the development and promotion of its ecosystem.  Huawei will continue to work closely with Vodafone on the commercialisation of NB-IoT to open the door to a truly Better Connected World.”

Source: Vodafone

Canada’s Vision for Smart Cities

Canada’s National Research Council (NRC) has identified Cities of the Future as a game-changing technology and economic opportunity.  Following a national dialogue, an Executive Summit was held in Toronto on March 31, 2016, resulting in an important summary report that will become the seed for Canadian R&D strategy in this sector.
The conclusion so far is that the opportunity for Canada is to muster leadership in the following three areas (in order):
  1. Better Infrastructure and Infrastructure Management
  2. Efficient Transportation; and
  3. Renewable Energy
The real challenge for Canada is that most of the global pioneers on the smart city frontier have already staked out this exact same territory. And this isn’t surprising given that the predominant ‘civil engineering’ vision for the future of cities imagines them asmachines – as beautiful infrastructure well-oiled with data.
 
So where can Canada its best niche?   We are blessed with a number of advantages including:
  • Innovation Platforms: We already have a disproportionate number of the best cities in the world, which from an innovation perspective elevates these to a ‘platform’ level where all future-building is faster and easier.
  • Smart Urban Population:  The projection is that 75% of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050, but in Canada that number is already 81% and rising. Canadians are well-educated, well-connected and distinctively global while also distinctively urban, enabling the our leading cities to become ‘living labs’ filled with first-adopters.
  • Healthy Society:  in short, we are one of the few places in the world where our entire society can also be employed as an innovation platform.
Cities aren’t machines, they are cradles for future of humanity.  That’s the opportunity.  The engineering vision above needs to be socially enhanced as illustrated here:
Another way to consider the opportunity starts with the concept of “transhumanity”, where wearable technologies are enabling people to extend their natural capacity.  Some of the ideas here still seem creepy, so a better term may be “transurbanity”, where people with such technologies, participating autonomously, can dramatically extend the capacity and livability of their cities. Rather than becoming the oil in a machine, people collectively become the neurons of a higher-order urban ‘mind’ that is enabled and energized by data.
More concretely, people are a horizontal strategy, whereas infrastructure, transportation and energy are all verticals.  By playing it cards well, Canada can win in multiple verticals.

Source: urbanopus

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Smart City Standards – an overview

Trying to make sense of Smart City standardization activities

Recently I’ve been trying to get a handle on Smart City standards for an IEEE trend paper I’ve been asked to write on Smart Cities. This blog post is an attempt to make some sense of the overwhelming mass of standards activities worldwide and in particular, to try and find a framework that enables me to even begin to categorize all the activity I come across.

First step – get some sort of framework to understand where different standards fit

The amount of activity in Smart City standardization is truly overwhelming – this is partly due to the breadth and scope of Smart City activities – from water pipes to people – and partly because it is early in the process and the standards bodies are still trying to understand how best to contribute.
After spending several days drowning in standards, I decided to step back and try and find a way of categorizing the different standards. I came across a useful framework from the UK’s standards body, the British Standards Institute (BSI), which is part of an excellent (and free) report they’ve written on Smart Cities (PD 8100 Smart city overview)
The Framework categorizes standards into 3 main levels, Strategic, Process and Technical

Levels of Smart City standards (Copyright BSI 2015)



  • Source:Urban Opus

Smart Cities of the Future

In September of 2015, the Obama Administration announced their “Smart Cities” Initiative. The initiative represented a $160 million investment into federal research and dozens of collaborative technologies. The goals of smart cities include, “reducing traffic congestion, fighting crime, fostering economic growth, managing the effects of a changing climate, and improving the delivery of city services.”
While the endorsement of the U.S. Government was significant, smart cities have been in the works for quite some time. Built on reclaimed tidal flats at a cost of $40 billion, the South Korean city of Songdo“debuted” in 2009, virtually from scratch.

The Utopian Vision of Smart Cities

Realizing the potential of a ubiquitous city, with technology built into infrastructure itself, Songdo offers innovation heretofore unforeseen in urban planning. For example, garbage trucks are unnecessary in Songdo, as the city uses a pneumatic waste system. This means all waste goes into a network of underground pipes, through which trash is automatically sorted and routed to the appropriate landfill or recycling center. Additionally, residents in the city center can video-conference each other or attend classes remotely via a robust digital network.
Lest anyone be misled into believing that the inspired planning is confined to waste management and IT in Songdo, note the city’s beautiful boulevards and the elegant network of canals. Metrosourcenoted the utopian quality of the cityscape in a recent article, noting:
“To a visitor, the city of Songdo IBD might appear equally miraculous — a city where the wonders of technology meet with the furthest reaches of the human imagination to create a place of unlimited possibility.”
From automated homes to traffic and pollution monitors, civic planners look to Songdo as a realization of the promise of smart city technology.

Paradise Lost: The Security Risk of Connected Systems

Not all share the same enthusiasm for smart cities. In a world of headlines referencing “lone wolf attacks,” “soft targets,” and “sleeper cells,” the ramifications of interconnected infrastructure suddenly feel less utopian.
In June of 2016, the security technology solution provider, Tripwire, surveyed a group of 203 IT professionals working for state and local governments. The responses indicate a heightened level of concern about the security risks associated with smart cities. Respondent data indicated the following:
  • 88 percent of government IT professionals agreed that a cyberattack targeting critical city infrastructure could pose a threat to public safety.
  • 78 percent of government IT professionals predicted that a cyberattack against smart city services would “probably” or “definitely” occur in 2016.
  • 81 percent of government IT professionals agreed that a cyberattack targeting critical city infrastructure could cause physical damage.
  • 83 percent of government IT professionals expressed concern over cyberattack targeting smart city transportation initiatives.
Through the result of any intentional sabotage, the Northeast Blackout of 2003 offers evidence of the economic and human toll that a compromised or disabled city metropolitan infrastructure might cause. That event led to the loss of power for 50 million people over a two-day period. Eleven deaths and $6 billion in losses are attributed to the outage.

Big Brother Is Watching: Concerns Over Privacy

An interconnected city grid of traffic and pedestrian cameras offers a wealth of actionable Big Data. As an example, in the Dutch city of Rotterdam, “the traffic authority monitors about 22,000 vehicle movements every morning, while the regional environment agency produces hourly data about air quality from sensors across greater Rotterdam resulting in over 175,000 observations per year.”
In addition to better managing traffic and public transit, as well as controlling pollution, proponents highlight the ability of such data to enable enhanced policing, crowd control, and even public sentiment monitoring.
However, others express grave concerns about the potential for abuse in such systems, especially given the integration of smartphones into connected apps utilized by many smart cities. Although ostensibly “anonymous,” smartphones contain personal markers, and a wealth of information that represents great value to marketers, government agencies, and fraudsters. Govtech.com noted this danger in a recent article featuring Rob Kitchin, a professor at Maynooth University in Ireland whospecializes in smart city and urban infrastructure issues:
“Each smartphone has unique identifiers that can be accessed and shared by apps, some of which can be captured externally via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth signal. These identifiers can be used to track the phone and, by association, its owner. Although the IDs are pseudonyms, they act as very clear personal markers that have a range of other information attached to them, such as phone numbers, email accounts, messaging logs, address books, social media accounts, credit card details, etc., as well as inferred information such as home and work addresses.”
Though the vision of smart cities integrated with ubiquitous technology, is a fascinating one, it also presents obvious concerns. To that end, not-for-profit global initiatives, such as Securing Smart Cities, aim to “solve the existing and future cybersecurity problems of smart cities through collaboration between companies, governments, media outlets, other not-for-profit initiatives, and individuals across the world.”

Source:Andrew Armstrong - Smart data Collective

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

New M2M Technology : Narrowband IOT

NB-IoT is a new standardized cellular technology running on existing operator networks, optimized to enable the Internet of Things. With its unique capabilities it allows for a large number of low cost, low power devices with deep indoor penetration.


The Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) technology Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) is one of the most widely discussed innovations in M2M communication for the Internet of Things. Analysts anticipate around three billion LPWA connections by 2023. For customers, NB-IoT enables new applications by providing a low cost, low power solution with wide area coverage and deep indoor penetration. 

BASED ON 3GPP STANDARD, USES EXISTING OPERATOR NETWORKS

NB-IoT is designed for use where conventional M2M channels such as mobile networks, DSL, WLAN or Bluetooth are uneconomical or simply do not meet application requirements such as deep indoor penetration. The solution can be operated in existing operator networks. Based on 3GPP standards and therefore operating in licensed spectrum, it ensures stability, reliability, and security in the future.

LOW POWER CONSUMPTION, STRONG PROPAGATION, LOW DEVICE UNIT COSTS

Low power consumption and wide area coverage are two of the core features of an NB-IoT/LPWA network. To fulfill these requirements M2M modules are required to function independently of an external power supply. In addition, very strong propagation is needed to enable signals to penetrate into cellars or along channels. As they mostly transmit only small amounts of data, and often do so only once an hour or day, these NB-IoT modules have a long battery lifetime, working unattended throughout. With low NB-IoT device unit costs, using an M2M network is profitable for small and midrange businesses too. The potential uses are many and varied:

SMART METERING: NB-IOT FOR GAS AND WATER METERS

One of the most suitable uses for NB-IoT is smart metering: gas and water meters, unlike smart electricity meters, are not connected to the electricity supply and are also often located in cellars where conventional mobile network connections are usually either weak or non-existent. Battery-powered NB-IoT modules need no power connection, deliver deep indoor penetration, and thereby establish a reliable connection even in areas where mobile reception is poor. The provider is able to read the meter remotely and the end customer does not have to stay at home in order to wait for the meter reader to come by.

SMART CITIES: CONNECTING STREET LIGHTS AND PARKING SPACES

In Smart Cities, NB-IoT technology can be used in street lighting, for example. Lamp posts fitted with appropriate modules can be switched on and off or dimmed remotely and can trigger an alarm if they malfunction. If a city connects its parking spaces by NB-IoT, better use is made of free capacities. Motorists are directed by a smart parking guidance system to the nearest free parking space by the shortest route. In waste disposal, garbage cans fitted with NB-IoT modules alert a control center when they are full. As a consequence, waste disposal companies can optimize vehicle routes and reduce costs.

TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS: CONTAINER TRACKING AND REFILLABLE TANKS

In transportation and logistics very little information is often needed in very small data packets, and transmission must not even be in real time. So NB-IoT is a suitable low-cost solution. In container tracking, for instance, hourly notification of the container’s location is all that is required. For refillable tanks or bottles, industrial liquid or gas providers monitor levels, pressure and temperature as required. Railroad operators locate freight cars by NB-IoT.

INDUSTRY: NB-IOT ON PALLETS AND PIPELINES

There are industrial M2M uses for NB-IoT too, especially when the use of WLAN equipment for close-range transmission is not worthwhile. In warehouses, goods can be located and tracked if the pallet is equipped with an NB-IoT module. The result of this Industrial Internet solution is more efficient warehouse management. In order to monitor oil and gas pipelines, sensors relay important information about pressure, flow rate or possible leaks. There is often no external power source for pipelines in inaccessible areas. Here too, NB-IoT is a contender because modules have a long service life, require no maintenance and have a 20 decibel wider range than conventional mobile network connections.

FARMING AND FORESTRY: MONITORING LIVESTOCK 

NB-IoT technology is also suitable for agricultural use where there is no power supply or where network coverage is poor. In irrigation of fields or plantations, tank levels, pump pressure and flow rates are measured. The location and health of livestock can be monitored too, thereby preventing inter alia the spread of diseases. In forestry, low-cost sensors can be distributed in large numbers in the woods to report information such as temperature, smoke development or wind direction.

LOCALIZATION: NB-IOT FOR TRACKING

NB-IoT is suitable for locating pets or valuables. In order to not lose sight of a pet or an expensive bike, an NB-IoT module can be a low-cost alternative to a GSM tracker.
These examples prove that there is a strong demand for future-safe, reliable technologies like Narrowband IoT and that a new market with new business models is opening up for business enterprises.

TIMETABLE FOR A NEW MARKET

In cooperation with the GSMA, the global industry association of mobile network operators, and the standardization body 3GPP, Deutsche Telekom is working on taking development forward and defining uniform standards for NB-IoT/LPWA technology and networks.
“Our concern is with the introduction of cellular Internet of Things solutions based not on proprietary but on global standards.” (Bruno Jacobfeuerborn, CTO Deutsche Telekom AG)

In September 2015, the 3GPP members agreed on basic NB-IoT/LPWA specifications for existing GSM and LTE networks. In October, Deutsche Telekom became the world’s first network operator to carry out – jointly with the Chinese network supplier Huawei – a successful NB-IoT/LPWA trial in its mobile network. Standardization of the new technology has been finalized by the 3GPP by March 2016, followed by further trials and, from 2017, the first commercial applications that support international roaming are anticipated.

Source: Deutsche Telekom

Standardization of NB-IOT completed.New Business Opportunities can be enabled with NB - IoT.

On June 2016 3GPP completed the standardization of NB-IOT, the new narrowband radio technology developed for the Internet-of-Things (IoT).
The changes implementing the feature into Release 13 (LTE Advanced Pro) specifications are listed here. While corrections are still possible in the coming months, the feature is now frozen in the specification, and only essential backward-compatible changes will be allowed from now onwards.
“It took us only 9 months to standardize the new technology after the study phase. Once again 3GPP demonstrated the ability to quickly respond to the emerging market needs” Dino Flore, the Chairman of 3GPP RAN, said.
With the completion of the NB-IOT, 3GPP has concluded a major effort in Release 13 to address the IoT market. The portfolio of new technologies that 3GPP operators can now use to address their different market requirements includes NB-IOT, eMTC and EC-GSM-IoT.
NB IoT can enable new business opportunities as described in the  Huawei White Paper

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Telia Sense



As the first operator in the world, TeliaSonera is introducing a cloud-based solution enabling
high-end car features for all types of cars, including those lacking built-in connectivity.
The solution is developed with partners from the automotive and insurance industries and offers a combination of car-control functionalities like car diagnostics, high performance connectivity through 4G, Wi-Fi and value-added services like tailored car insurance.

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

50 Sensor Applications for a Smarter World

see more at

France's SFR 'Experimenting' With NB-IoT, LTE-M

French telco Numericable-SFR says it is "experimenting" with NB-IoT and LTE-M and believes they could be used to "complement" connectivity technologies it has already rolled out, including Sigfox as well as the 2G, 3G and 4G cellular standards.
Owned by cable group Altice , the company operates France's second-biggest mobile network, behind market leader Orange. Earlier this year, SFR announced a partnership with Sigfox aimed at supporting Internet of Things (IoT) services in France and other markets. (See Altice, Sigfox Join Forces in French IoT Battle.)
Based in the French city of Toulouse, Sigfox has developed one of several low-power, wide-area (LPWA) network technologies now being used to connect devices that transmit small amounts of bandwidth at regular intervals, such as smart electricity meters. (See Sigfox Plans Global IoT Network.)
NB-IoT and LTE-M are widely seen as the cellular communications industry's answer to LPWA: Unlike Sigfox, and another LPWA technology called LoRa, they use licensed as opposed to unlicensed spectrum and have been slower to reach the market.
Mobile operators including Orange (NYSE: FTE) and Vodafone Group plc(NYSE: VOD) have said they would prefer to use licensed-spectrum technologies to support IoT services. But the unavailability of NB-IoT -- which was included in the 3GPP's Release 13 as recently as June -- has created an opening for Sigfox and LoRa.
While Vodafone appears to be holding off on a major investment in LPWA until NB-IoT is commercially available, Orange has been rolling out a LoRa network in France and Altice has settled on Sigfox.
"NB-IoT and LTE-M are not available yet and SFR's strategy is to bring new IoT solutions to its B2B customers right now," said a spokesperson forNumericable-SFR in comments emailed to Light Reading. "However, SFR is … also investing and experimenting on those technologies."
The French operator has become the second customer of Sigfox to acknowledge it is examining NB-IoT and other LPWA technologies.
Earlier this week, security company Verisure Securitas Direct told Light Reading it is assessing NB-IoT and LTE-M and might add them to its "portfolio" in future. (See Sigfox Customer Verisure Eyes NB-IoT.)
Because NB-IoT is targeting many of the same opportunities as Sigfox, the news that customers are eyeing the technology would seem to be a troubling sign for the French company.
Sigfox, however, has been quick to downplay the NB-IoT threat, insisting its low-cost technology can meet a range of needs that NB-IoT would not be able to address economically.
In public, at least, Numericable-SFR is toeing the same line. "The solutions are complementary to address the bulk of the IoT with the most appropriate solution," says the operator's spokesperson. "When they will be available, NB-IoT and LTE-M will complement nicely capabilities provided by 2G/3G/4G or by Sigfox."

Similar to Verisure, Numericable-SFR also insists it is has been "entirely satisfied with Sigfox so far" following reports of customer disaffection with the French company.
Nigiloc, a French startup developing tracking gadgets for bicycles, previously told Light Reading that Sigfox did not meet quality standards during geolocation testing and was unsuited to supporting applications requiring mobility. (See Sigfox Said to Face Customer Backlash.)
According to a source close to the matter, an advertising company called Clear Channel Outdoor and French insurance player MAAF have also experienced problems with Sigfox.
MAAF did not respond to requests for comment on the status of its relationship with Sigfox, while Clear Channel Outdoor said "we don't want to comment on Sigfox" when approached by Light Reading.
Sigfox would not deny the organizations have had problems but said all three are among its "earliest" customers and that other more important ones, including Verisure and Numericable-SFR, have had wholly positive experiences.
The question is whether NB-IoT will crowd out Sigfox in future. While Altice insists on the complementary nature of the different technologies, Orange has hinted it may ultimately ditch LoRa and move all of its IoT services over to networks based on 3GPP standards. (See LoRa May Not Be for Long Haul at Orange.)
As one of the key players in the NB-IoT Forum, Vodafone has been even more strident, arguing that NB-IoT will "crush" both LoRa and Sigfox when it eventually arrives. (See Vodafone to 'Crush' LoRa, Sigfox With NB-IoT.)
Vodafone is planning to roll out commercial services based on NB-IoT from next year. (See Vodafone Ups IoT Stakes With 2017 Plan for NB-IoT.)

Source:Light Reading

SK Telecom commercialises IoT-dedicated network

South Korean mobile carrier SK Telecom has commercially launched a nationwide network exclusively for Internet of Things (IoT) services that offers 100MB of data per month for only $1.75.
The network uses the firm's LoRa wireless standard-based network, a joint project with compatriot Samsung, and its LTE-M network built in March.
SK Telecom hopes the price competitive network will be used by customers for remote light control, wireless meter readings, manhole monitoring, and wearables.
The telco said the new network overtakes previous machine-to-machine (M2M) services' relatively high power consumption and prices, and contributes to an increase in supply and demand in IoT-related businesses.
Customers can use 100MB of data for only 2,000 won, around $1.75, per month. Those using the network for meter reading will need only to pay 350 won (31 cents) per month.
The company will also distribute for free 100,000 IoT modules for applying customers.
Rival KT is also planning to deploy an IoT-dedicated market within the year that uses an LTE-M network.
Last month, SK demonstrated the potential of its 5G infrastructure, in partnership with Ericsson
Source:ZD Net

Operators in Korea, Netherlands deploy LoRa networks for IoT

SK Telecom completed nationwide deployment of LoRa network



As global “internet of things” adoptions continue, operators around the world are working to deploy purpose-built networks, using varying technologies including those for a LoRa network.
Korean operator SK Telecom recently completed its nationwide deployment of a Low-Power Wide-Area Network based on LoRa technology.
The Asian telco finished building LoRaWAN across the country by the end of June, six months earlier than its initial schedule.
SK Telecom said its network covers 99% of the population, adding that its nationwide LTE-M and LoRa WAN networks put it in a position to create valuable business opportunities related to IoT. The company completed the rollout of its nationwide LTE-M network infrastructure in March.
In order to promote the growth of the local IoT market, SK Telecom plans to offer attractive price plans and develop IoT services, while offering strong support for SMEs. To achieve this goal, the operator aims to invest a total of 100 billion won ($580 million) by the end of next year. The telco expects to connect over 4 million devices to its IoT-dedicated networks by the end of 2017.
“SK Telecom is proud to announce the nationwide deployment of LoRaWAN as it marks the first important step toward realizing connectivity between infinite number of things, going beyond the traditional role of telecommunications centered on connectivity between people,” said Lee Hyung-hee, president of mobile network business at SK Telecom. “Going forward, SK Telecom will develop and offer a wide variety of IoT services designed to offer new value for customers, while working closely with partners including SMEs and startups to vitalize the IoT ecosystem.”
SK Telecom plans to develop services in the areas of metering, tracking and monitoring. In the area of metering, the telco is currently focusing on Advanced Metering Infrastructure, which enables the utility companies to not only accurately measure and monitor usage, but also control the metering devices. SK Telecom has been conducting a pilot project on AMI since November, and also announced plans to launch AMI services for utilities including water and electricity.
The Korean operator is currently developing a tracking service to identify and track the location of vehicles, people and assets. In cooperation with local governments, the company plans to this month launch “Safe Watch,” a wearable designed to enhance the safety of children and the elderly.
Moreover, SK Telecom will offer monitoring services capable of controlling and managing manufacturing, public and commercial facilities.
SK Telecom confirmed it plans to launch a total of 20 LoRa-based IoT services by the end of this year, including a manhole monitoring service and a real-time shared parking service.

KPN completes deployment of LoRa network in the Netherlands

In related news, Dutch telecoms operator KPN has also deployed a nationwide LoRa network for IoT applications. The operator switched on its first LoRa network equipment last November in Rotterdam and The Hague, and now offers nationwide connectivity.
KPN also said that 1.5 million devices are currently using the network infrastructure across the country.
“Last year we identified an increasing demand for low-power network technology for internet of things applications. We are responding to this by choosing LoRa, so millions of devices can be connected to the internet in a cost-effective manner,” KPN’s COO Joost Farwerck said.
KPN and SK Telecom are both members of the LoRa Alliance.

Source: RCR Wireless

Monday, September 5, 2016

Apple Home will do little to spur the stagnant smart home market

At this year's Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple finalized its smart home ecosystem by announcing the upcoming release of the Home app in iOS 10.
The app is built off HomeKit, which is Apple’s smarthome developer framework and interoperability protocol released in 2014. The app helps Apple iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch users control HomeKit compatible smart home devices from a single app, rather than multiple apps.
While the app helps Apple users better manage smart home devices, BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, believes it will do little to spur the overall stagnant smart home market. The smart home market continues to be plagued by high device prices, limited value, and hard-to-install devices. Apple Home attempts to fix the fact that many of the devices are difficult to install, but the system has many limitations.

Source: BI intelligence