France-based SIGFOX that delivers communications solutions specifically for Internet of Things (IoT) has signed a strategic partnership with Houston-based power producer ENGIE and an IoT network operator UnaBiz. The partnership is planning to position and deploy the SIGFOX global network in Singapore.
SIGFOX claims to be finding open markets for its cost-effective, energy-efficient connectivity, along with its partners. As Singapore has equipped its Smart Nation Initiative due to rapid development in Info-com technology (ICT), it creates a good opportunity for companies to find a receptive market-space.
Henri Bong, CEO, UnaBiz, said, “The IoT will have a profound impact on the way citizens live, work and play. The IoT will play a major role in building nations where citizens will live fulfilling lives that are richly supported by technology. As the exclusive SIGFOX Network Operator in Singapore, we are very excited to roll out nationwide connectivity. We will leverage SIGFOX’s global ecosystem of world-leading component manufacturers, IT developers and integrators to help and establish Singapore as the ‘living lab’ of Asia.”
The three partners are aiming at delivering a nationwide coverage by 2017. According to them, this will become possible as they take advantage of the fast network rollout and lighter infrastructure demand than traditional wireless networks. Singapore-based UnaBiz, which operates SIGFOX network there, claims to direct the nationwide rollout and pave the way for overall growth of SIGFOX’s IoT ecosystem.
Ludovic Le Moan, CEO, SIGFOX, said:
The company’s simple deployment, seamless connectivity and flexibility to conform to standards assure a rapid rollout in Singapore, and drive way for multiple new applications in all business and industry sectors and smart-city uses. The IoT must have a global seamless network infrastructure to enable secure collection, transmission and sharing of that data and to address the total-cost-of-ownership barriers that delay its adoption.
“Based on our experience in 21 countries where our network is already present and registers more than 7 million objects, we are confident that our proven solution and partner ecosystem will help Singapore to implement its Smart Nation Initiative quickly and successfully,” added Moan.
ENGIE has also introduced ENGIE M2M after it acquired a minority stake in SIGFOX, to act as the exclusive national network operator of SIGFOX’s connectivity solution in Belgium. According to the company, it helps to unlock IoT to consumers and organizations by enabling two-way communication of objects and the cloud.
Isabelle Kocher, CEO, ENGIE said:
We choose to invest in the development of IoT in Singapore, because digital technology is a powerful asset that will help our local businesses to improve energy efficiency, facility management and customer-centered solutions. In addition, Singapore’s dynamic innovation ecosystem and regional connectivity provides the right environment for us to pioneer IoT solutions in the region.