Semtech Corporation, a supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, has announced its LoRa Wireless RF Technology is being used in a new low power, wide area network (LPWAN) in London, which will be deployed as part of Digital Catapult’s Things Connected Program. The program’s goal is to foster innovation by providing businesses with free access to a LoRaWAN-based LPWAN for IoT applications.
The initial network consists of 50 Everynet base stations, which makes it the largest LoRaWAN network in the UK, and is the result of collaboration between U.K. IoT service provider Digital Catapult, British Telecom, Future Cities Catapult, Everynet, Beecham Research, AllThingsTalk, BRE, Imperial College London, Kings College London, UCL, and Queen Mary University of London. Together, they hope to create an IoT incubator program designed to drive smart technology solutions for infrastructure provisioning, traffic and transport services, energy management and environmental sensing.
“The Internet of Things has the potential to fundamentally change how we live, work and do business,” said Chris Sims, Managing Director, British Telecom. “But only by taking an open, collaborative approach can we truly maximize that potential, and help our customers to engage with this exciting new world of IoT technologies. We’re proud to be playing our part in making Things Connected a success, and helping London and the UK to build an exciting future as a leader in IoT.”
Some of the ideas proposed for the network include making roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists with data from sensors that monitor traffic congestion, pedestrian footfall counts, and crash impact incidents; improve quality of life for COPD and asthma sufferers by offering a cost-effective communication network for service providers to use to deliver environmental quality analysis; optimizing delivery drones with the deployment of micro wind speed and turbulence sensors across London to help with routing and battery optimization.
“Digital Catapult’s Things Connected program shows how private enterprises, educational institutions and local governments can work together to create a technology program that encourages companies to deploy and test innovative IoT solutions for their cities,” said Marc Pegulu, VP and GM, Wireless and Sensing Product Group, Semtech. “By setting up the LoRaWAN network and providing free access, Digital Catapult has made it easy for SMEs across London to test and bring their great IoT ideas to market.”