The Orange IoT facility will focus on LTE-M technology and provide support for partners looking to accelerate device development.
French telecommunications group Orange is planning to inaugurate its Open IoT Lab designed to boost the ecosystem around the mobile internet of things. The telco claimed that the lab will be the first of its kind in Europe based on LTE-M technology and is to be launched under the GSMA Mobile IoT initiative.
The lab is located at Orange’s campus in Chatillon, France, and is set to open April 1. The facility is designed to provide support for partners looking to accelerate the development of LTE-M devices with access to an IoT and analysts platform, as well as an IoT starter kit that includes network equipment to test performance, low data rate, coverage expansion and energy optimization features.
Partners will have access to Orange technical experts, designers and marketers in tapping experience for smart cities, automotive, transportation, manufacturing, health care and smart home initiatives.
“Future proof, secured and reliable connectivity is a key pillar of Orange’s IoT strategy,” noted Mari-Noëlle Jégo-Laveissière, EVP for innovation, marketing and technologies at Orange, in a statement. “By working together with IoT partners, device manufacturers and innovators we can accelerate the development of the LTE-M technology end-to-end chain and therefore advance towards the future of the internet of things.”
Orange recently announced plans to roll out LTE-M networks in Spain and Belgium this year, and is also planning to launch new LTE-M pilots targeting smart electric metering and wearables. For those pilots, Orange is working with LTE-M chipset manufacturers Altair Semiconductor, Qualcomm Technologies and Sequans as well as various network equipment vendors.
