Semtech Corporation, a leading supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, said its LoRa® technology has been selected by Tata Communications, a leading provider of A New World of Communications™, for its deployment of an Internet of things (IoT) network in key cities in India.
The low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) based on the LoRaWAN™ certification standard from the LoRa® Alliance was successfully trialed in Mumbai and Delhi and will now be rolled out nationwide, with full coverage planned to start in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.
The trials should help bolster the smooth deployment of IoT applications in India.
Semtech and its partners within the LoRa Alliance ecosystem contributed to the Tata Communications network launch by providing LoRaWAN-certified transceivers, modules, and other products and services. By following the LoRaWAN standard, Tata Communications can provide interoperability between its network and standardized applications designed to propel adoption and growth of the network.
Tata Communications’ proposed LPWAN wireless network is optimized for ultra-low power consumption, which allows the battery in the end device to last for more than a decade without replacement, and has unprecedented reach, enabling communications in deep water and up to 50 meters underground.
This makes the LPWAN network suitable for use in metro stations, car parks and other smart city and smart building applications. The network signal is extremely strong, penetrating up to seven walls inside buildings. The network is also suitable for rural areas due to its range up to 15 km. Compared with 4G, WiFi, ZigBee or Bluetooth technology, the LPWAN network is often more cost-effective for organizations to deploy.
Tri Pham, Chief Strategy Officer, Tata Communications, says, “Tata Communications is dedicated to enabling cutting-edge, innovative communication solutions for the digital economy. Given our global network leadership, we have a bird’s eye view on how connected applications are permeating all aspects of people’s lives.
“We see a massive need for a new smart network to enable intelligent solutions for a variety of M2M applications to facilitate a simpler and smarter way of life and at a lower cost of ownership. These trials are just the beginning, we intend to deploy this network across India and invite customers with IoT projects to test it, along with us, end-to-end.”
As technology evolves into an intrinsic part of everyday life from predictive waste management to precision farming and geo-fencing to smart electricity meters, the IoT industry is predicted to grow exponentially and India is seen as a high-growth potential market.
Tata Communications’ proposed LoRa LPWAN is simple for organizations to deploy, as it is pre-configured with plug-and-play connectivity for different industries, including manufacturing and agriculture.
“We are excited that Tata Communications has decided to deploy a LoRaWAN carrier-grade LPWAN solution across India,” said Mohan Maheswaran, President and Chief Executive Officer of Semtech.
“Tata Communications is a global leader in network and communication solutions and we are pleased to be an integral part of this new initiative. It is also a matter of great pride that after extensive testing of all available LPWAN technologies, Tata Communications chose to deploy LoRa technology in its endeavor to create and enable a brand new network for connected devices.” fii-news.com
