Thinxtra said the LPWA network will have a total of 100 base stations by June 2018
Asian company Thinxtra has announced the launch of a territory-wide low-power wide-area (LPWA) network in Hong Kong that connects to French IoT connectivity provider Sigfox networks in 36 other countries around the world.
Thinxtra said it is currently deploying base stations and antennas at key locations around the territory in preparation for the official launch of its LPWA network.
A total of 100 base stations are expected to be installed throughout Hong Kong by June 2018 to provide connectivity for businesses, research institutions and government organizations. The territory’s first Sigfox base stations and antennas were installed at Hong Kong Science and Technology Park (HKSTP) in mid-August to create an open IoT network for tenant companies engaged in IoT research and development.
“With strong government support for the growth of the IoT and smart city industries, Hong Kong has the potential to be a leader in the global IoT revolution. A thriving innovation and incubation environment and a cost-effective LPWA network are essential to making this vision a reality,” said Loic Barancourt, CEO of Thinxtra.
While rolling out its LPWA network in Hong Kong, Thinxtra is also working closely with HKSTP on research and development as well as the design of devices, sensors and solutions.
“Organizations in Hong Kong can benefit from Thinxtra’s expertise and infrastructure as they develop and deploy new IoT solutions on the Sigfox technology. Making a wide range of new applications more viable, this will help stimulate innovation, enhance business competitiveness and further Hong Kong’s growth as a leading smart city,” said Murray Hankinson, managing director of Thinxtra Asia.
As the exclusive Sigfox operator in Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong, Thinxtra already has a live LPWA network covering much of the population of Australia and New Zealand, along with an ecosystem of more than 200 local IoT partners.
Sigfox currently has commercial presence in 36 markets compared to 12 last year. Sigfox also said that a total of 60 countries will have access to its IoT connectivity services by the end of next year.
Also, a total of 17 countries currently have nationwide coverage through the firm’s IoT network. The countries where the Sigfox’s IoT network currently offers full coverage include Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Italy, Ireland, Luxemburg, Malta, Mauritius, New Zealand, Oman, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Taiwan and the Netherlands.
The French connectivity firm also said that Sigfox’s global network currently reaches 660 million people compared to 165 million last year.
