Verizon Business in the US has introduced IoT services across its ‘5G Nationwide’ network, plus a new suite of Intelligence features. Verizon-certified IoT devices can now access the 5G Nationwide network through current compatible data plans in the ThingSpace IoT Marketplace, with new 5G-compatible hardware and plans coming later this year. Devices and plans compatible with 5G Ultra Wideband are expected by Q1 2022. Verizon Business has opened customer trials for ThingSpace Intelligence, a new suite of analytics and management tools that give users predictive visibility into their IoT device and network performance. The Intelligence layer applies machine learning to millions of Verizon network signals to help manage massive IoT and generate predictive alerts and notifications, with overlays for extreme weather. A low-cost narrowband IoT module (sub-USD4) from Quectel, powered by the Qualcomm 212 LTE IoT modem, is now certified on Verizon’s network. The module makes narrowband massive IoT applications more cost-effective than ever and enables turnkey connectivity for a vast array of industrial sensors. Verizon says it now offers ‘a potent combination of customer-facing network, hardware and intelligence offerings for IoT applications’ across industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, utilities, transportation, retail/supply chain, public safety and more.
IoT Africa Networks has become the official Sigfox operator in Nigeria, reports This Day. Launched in 2019, IoT Africa’s stated mission is to enable and power the Internet of Things in Africa through the provision of affordable and reliable IoT network connectivity and solutions, and to empower homes and industries to have full visibility and control of their assets. CEO of IoT Africa, Lare Ayoola, said: ‘IoT Africa is the exclusive partner of Sigfox France in Nigeria. This means that we will build the low power wide area network, and we will allow connectivity of Sigfox compliant devices to connect on the network.’ IoT Africa is aiming to offer a wide range of high-quality connected products such as utility meters, gas sensors, health watch, smart ID, smoke detectors, container trackers and street lighting solutions, and is targeting high-volume industries such as Utilities & Energy, Oil & Gas, Smart Cities, Smart Real Estate, Smart Facilities, Smart Agriculture and Smart Logistics. IoT Africa’s website says that its Sigfox network already covers 85% of Lagos. Over 65 countries currently have active Sigfox IoT networks.
Telecom Egypt and Nokia have renewed their partnership agreement – originally signed in February 2019 – on development of IoT infrastructure based on Nokia’s ‘WING’ global IoT network platform. The partners’ original plans were stalled and subsequently suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, while the new agreement should see the launch of joint marketing initiatives and acceleration of national IoT development projects in Egypt.
TIM Brasil is considering a spin-off of its IoT-focused agribusiness division to create an independent company, Teletime reported, citing the cellco’s CEO Pietro Labriola, who added that the agribusiness/IoT unit earned revenues of BRL40 million (USD7.2 million) last year.
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