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Companies aim to roll out low-power, wide-area network coverage to 85% of population within 18 months.
SigFox on Wednesday announced it will roll out an Internet of Things (IoT) network in the Middle East for the first time, after striking a partnership with Oman’s incumbent operator Omantel.
SigFox’s IoT technology uses unlicensed, low-frequency spectrum. It is designed to provide cheap, energy efficient, wide-area network coverage suitable for connecting large numbers of devices and transmitting small amounts of data over long distances.
"This is an exciting partnership for SigFox since Omantel is a highly innovative telecom provider that is committed to offering its business and residential customers a broad suite of services," said Thierry Siminger, president of SigFox Middle East and Africa (MEA), in a statement. "This deployment in the Sultanate of Oman also is a major milestone in SigFox’s expansion in the MEA region."
In partnership with Omantel, SigFox aims to deploy an IoT network covering 85% of the population within 18 months.
In addition to network infrastructure, as a SigFox network operator (SNO), Omantel will also be able to tap SigFox’s ecosystem of component and device makers, enabling it to launch a vast range of IoT services in various industry verticals.
"SigFox offers a pioneering IoT solution that will complement our comprehensive telecommunication services," said Samy Ahmed Al Ghassany, chief operating officer at Omantel. "This agreement strongly supports our commitment to innovate by enhancing infrastructure and using new technologies that increase our network coverage and capabilities."
