Already a part of Cisco’s partner program, French low power wide area network firm Actility, which provides an internet of things (IoT) solution that covers networking and data management with its ThingPark product, has raised $75 million in Series D funding, which includes participation from Cisco Investments, the networking company’s venture arm.
Actility executives made the announcement this week during a meeting of the LoRa Alliance in Philadelphia; that group is a nonprofit focused on advancing the LoRaWAN specification for IoT connectivity and interoperability. Other participants in the Series D funding round include Orange, Inmarsat and Robert Bosch Venture Capital. Actility, in a statement, said it will use the new investment “to roll out industrial IoT solutions with its partners for key verticals such as logistics and supply chain, smart buildings and energy and utilities.”
The existing relationship between Cisco and Actility saw the equipment maker integrate ThingPark into its IoT products. The LoRa (low power, long range) wide area network products are available through a subscription model or on-premises. ThingPark includes a core solution, as well as OSS capabilities that help give operators visibility into IoT infrastructure, plans, management and access.
Actility CEO Mike Mulica said the two companies have “big plans for the connected world,” while, Amit Chatuvedy, head of IoT investments and acquisitions at Cisco, said the company’s goal is “rapid proliferation of IoT…We invest in companies that share our passion for helping customers and are leaders in their technologies.”
Working with satellite provider Inmarsat, also an investor, Actility is working on smart city proofs of concept in Kigali, Rwanda. Inmarsat will deploy LoRaWAN infrastructure around the city of Kigali to support the city’s flagship smart city project. Areas of interest include transport, utilities, health and education. “Kigali is taking the lead with its smart city project, creating an IoT ecosystem where both private and government organizations can experiment with this technology in a vibrant and lively city,” Inmarsat Enterprise President Paul Gudonis, said.
