T-Mobile and Blue Cell Network are partnering with SIGFOX, a provider of dedicated cellular connectivity for Internet-of-Things(IoT) and Machine-to-Machine(M2M) communications, to run a dediccated wireless network pilot for IoT/M2M in the Czech Republic. The network trial is designed to sample the technological and practical possibilities of SIGFOX’s technology and will run on real devices in a real environment (for instance, monitoring will include railway cars, available parking spaces and a number of other applications). The planned network pilot that will use SIGFOX’s Ultra Narrow Band (UNB) technology to provide scalable, long-range, two-way connectivity for IoT/M2M devoces, will operate on T-Mobile-managed base stations in Prague.
According to Sigfox, the network can be installed on standard cell towers and provides economical, energy-efficient transmission of small quantities of data over long distances, thus lowering barriers to wide implementation of IoT and M2M solutions, and greatly extending the battery and service life of connected devices. The network complements existing high-bandwidth cellular systems, which are designed for the data-intensive needs of smartphones and other mobile electronics.
Based on the outcome of the pilot testing, the companies involved will decide whether or not they will gradually roll out the SIGFOX global network across the entire Czech Republic.
Milan Hába, Innovations Director,T-Mobile
We see the future in the Internet of Things – basically any device or object will be able to transmit information via the Internet, which will facilitate a number of everyday activities and increase their efficiency. Therefore we have teamed up with Blue Cell Network to introduce the SIGFOX network, which has been proven in other countries to be one of the world’s best IoT solutions, in the Czech Republic.
Rodolphe Baronnet-Frugès, Executive VP, International Business Development, SIGFOX
The SIGFOX network is already operating or being deployed in more than a dozen European countries and major cities. We are excited to bring the benefits of cost-effective and energy-efficient Internet of Things connectivity to the Czech Republic.
