19 December 2017

WND UK chief exec Neal Forse says firms looking to capitalise on the IoT shouldn’t be “shackled” by the expense of building and maintaining a network.

Technology startups and SMEs wishing to develop IoT proof-of-concepts (PoCs) are being offered the network access they need at zero cost. 

WND UK says it will provide successful applicants with IoT gateways and ongoing network maintenance anywhere in the country. The offer also includes installation and licences for up to 100 device subscriptions.

WND operates the Sigfox LPWAN in the UK, and since launching its operation here in March 2017, the company says it is already providing coverage to more than 42 per cent of the population and is on track to reach 95 per cent by 2019.

“We want to ensure that startups and SMEs have the right tools and the right technology in place to fuel their creativity,” says WND UK chief executive Neal Forse. “Innovation is, all too often, crushed by concerns over financial viability and access to resources.”

Once PoCs have been tested and are ready for market, small businesses will be provided with continued connectivity, and benefit from what WND claims is the UK’s “most advanced”, fully supported LPWAN.

The operator adds that businesses already engaged in developing devices should find adopting the Sigfox network straightforward, as RF module vendors increasingly offer hybrid solutions that incorporate multiple standards.

For example, it says device maker Murata now offers a dual-mode module that supports both LoRa and Sigfox using the same chipset, while GCT Semiconductor recently announced a highly integrated single chip that will support LTE and Sigfox wireless IoT connectivity.