The Australian state of Tasmania is set to become the first state to have a full IoT (Internet of Things) network with 95 percent of the population set to be covered by the dedicated network by the end of 2017. Digital services provider TasmaNet in partnership with IoT and communications services provider Thinxtra are building the island-state’s network.
The new IoT network will enable new services and devices such as smart meters, temperature probes for aquaculture, GPS trackers for agriculture and also complete development kits with free connectivity for schools.
Thinxtra, which has committed to deploying up to 55 communications towers across the state by Q3 this year, is using Sigfox technology to deploy a nationwide wireless network dedicated to IoT. Hobart-based TasmaNet will provide access to its towers, its network backhaul, and engineers for ongoing maintenance and support of the sensory network, iTWire reported.
The IoT network will cover all major cities in Tasmania, according to Thinxtra Network Deployment Director Sam Sharief, including Hobart, Launceston, Devonport, Burnie and Ulverstone, making it the first Australian state to become fully IoT-ready. Thinxtra will support TasmaNet for additional coverage in regional project throughout the state, said Sharief.
“Our low cost, low power, long range IoT network is perfect for deploying simple solutions to make cities smarter, agriculture more sustainable and industry more cost efficient, said Sarief. “It can be used for better monitoring of the exceptional Tasmanian environment, and provide solutions to reduce bush fires or control the quality of water in lakes and rivers.”
Harris said the company is preparing to receive huge amounts of information at its Hobart data center from countless IoT devices around the state of Tasmania. “I cannot understate how big this is for Tasmania – it’s going to be huge,” he said.
