Russian cellco Beeline has launched an NB-IoT network in ‘pilot mode’ in Moscow, with coverage across its entire LTE network in the capital, TDaily reports. The operator is inviting partners to test IoT solutions for smart city, logistics and industrial applications, and says its network is ready to support ‘tens of millions’ of smart devices. Director Vasil Latsanich said: ‘We consider it right to give developers the opportunity to conduct pilots of their IoT solutions on our network in Moscow. In the near future, we expect a transition to a new standard for many urban and consumer services, such as energy metering systems, urban lighting, road infrastructure and intelligent housing and utilities systems.’ Beeline has also activated dual NB-IoT/LTE-M connectivity in a handful of selected test locations.
Another Russian mobile heavyweight, MTS, has announced North Ossetia – including the city of Vladikavkaz – as the latest region to receive coverage of its commercial NB-IoT network. MTS has expanded its NB-IoT reach to 20 additional cities in the first six months of 2019.
Tunisian tech firm Telnet is partnering Russia’s Sputnix and GK Launch Services to deploy a constellation of 30 satellites to serve Tunisia’s IoT sector by 2023. Telnet CEO Mohamed Frikha declared the project would ‘not only contribute to the creation of new space technologies and telecommunications solutions to meet the needs of the global market but will also lay the groundwork for the development of the space industry in Tunisia’.
Greek operator Cosmote has partnered connected vehicles firm Fleet Complete to launch Fleet Tracker, a complete fleet management platform based on IoT technology, aimed at large and small fleets of all vehicle types. Cosmote highlights Fleet Tracker’s advanced real-time interface capabilities, which it says helps businesses increase productivity and reduce operating costs, while enhancing drivers’ safety and vehicle security.
Kazakhstan-based telco ASTEL has revealed plans to launch a LoRaWAN IoT network across the country spanning more than 500 LoRa stations, local news site Profit reported.
Brazil’s National IoT Plan has been published via decree in the country’s Official Gazette, establishing an IoT Chamber to supervise IoT developments whilst setting out a legal framework for the sector alongside other measures. The Plan was drawn up by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation & Communications, the Ministry of Economy and National Bank for Economic & Social Development (BNDES) under the Brazilian Digital Transformation Strategy.
Belgian IoT platform provider AllThingsTalk has been acquired by Switzerland’s Also Holding, which intends to expand its IoT range, enabling clients such as vendors, network operators, system integrators and resellers to offer tailor-made IoT products for companies in various industry sectors.
Telia Sweden says it will soon connect energy company E.ON’s smart electricity meters to its NB-IoT network, taking advantage of better indoor and outdoor network coverage, lower energy consumption and low installation costs. Earlier this year, Telia signed a similar agreement with ONE Nordic and Ellevio to connect over one million energy customers via NB-IoT.
Neighbouring sister companies Vodafone Spain and Vodafone Portugal have expanded their ranges of consumer IoT products under the ‘V for Vodafone’ banner, with the V-Multi Tracker now available for Portuguese users to track any items of their choosing, whilst Spaniards can now keep a closer eye on their chihuahuas with the V-Pet location and activity tracker.
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