Close Menu
TechCentralTechCentral

    Subscribe to the newsletter

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube LinkedIn
    WhatsApp Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
    TechCentralTechCentral
    • News

      Vodacom, Maziv deal now looks likely after CompCom U-turn

      8 July 2025

      Icasa publishes new draft regulations for digital TV

      8 July 2025

      Fast-growing Beira port to get private mobile network

      8 July 2025

      MultiChoice hit with multimillion-rand fine for privacy ‘breaches’

      8 July 2025

      Still in play: Ramaphosa banks on talks to ease US tariff blow

      8 July 2025
    • World

      Cupertino vs Brussels: Apple challenges Big Tech crackdown

      7 July 2025

      Grammarly acquires e-mail start-up Superhuman

      1 July 2025

      Apple considers ditching its own AI in Siri overhaul

      1 July 2025

      Jony Ive’s first AI gadget could be … a pen

      30 June 2025

      Bumper orders for Xiaomi’s YU7 SUV heighten threat to Tesla

      27 June 2025
    • In-depth

      Siemens is battling Big Tech for AI supremacy in factories

      24 June 2025

      The algorithm will sing now: why musicians should be worried about AI

      20 June 2025

      Meta bets $72-billion on AI – and investors love it

      17 June 2025

      MultiChoice may unbundle SuperSport from DStv

      12 June 2025

      Grok promised bias-free chat. Then came the edits

      2 June 2025
    • TCS

      TCS | Connecting Saffas – Renier Lombard on The Lekker Network

      7 July 2025

      TechCentral Nexus S0E4: Takealot’s big Post Office jobs plan

      4 July 2025

      TCS | Tech, townships and tenacity: Spar’s plan to win with Spar2U

      3 July 2025

      TCS+ | First Distribution on the latest and greatest cloud technologies

      27 June 2025

      TCS+ | First Distribution on data governance in hybrid cloud environments

      27 June 2025
    • Opinion

      In defence of equity alternatives for BEE

      30 June 2025

      E-commerce in ICT distribution: enabler or disruptor?

      30 June 2025

      South Africa pioneered drone laws a decade ago – now it must catch up

      17 June 2025

      AI and the future of ICT distribution

      16 June 2025

      Singapore soared – why can’t we? Lessons South Africa refuses to learn

      13 June 2025
    • Company Hubs
      • Africa Data Centres
      • AfriGIS
      • Altron Digital Business
      • Altron Document Solutions
      • Altron Group
      • Arctic Wolf
      • AvertITD
      • Braintree
      • CallMiner
      • CambriLearn
      • CYBER1 Solutions
      • Digicloud Africa
      • Digimune
      • Domains.co.za
      • ESET
      • Euphoria Telecom
      • Incredible Business
      • iONLINE
      • Iris Network Systems
      • LSD Open
      • NEC XON
      • Network Platforms
      • Next DLP
      • Ovations
      • Paracon
      • Paratus
      • Q-KON
      • SevenC
      • SkyWire
      • Solid8 Technologies
      • Telit Cinterion
      • Tenable
      • Vertiv
      • Videri Digital
      • Wipro
      • Workday
    • Sections
      • AI and machine learning
      • Banking
      • Broadcasting and Media
      • Cloud services
      • Contact centres and CX
      • Cryptocurrencies
      • Education and skills
      • Electronics and hardware
      • Energy and sustainability
      • Enterprise software
      • Fintech
      • Information security
      • Internet and connectivity
      • Internet of Things
      • Investment
      • IT services
      • Lifestyle
      • Motoring
      • Public sector
      • Retail and e-commerce
      • Science
      • SMEs and start-ups
      • Social media
      • Talent and leadership
      • Telecoms
    • Events
    • Advertise
    TechCentralTechCentral
    Home » Company News » How IoT is enabling the rise of smarter South African homes

    How IoT is enabling the rise of smarter South African homes

    By Vox24 June 2021
    Twitter LinkedIn Facebook WhatsApp Email Telegram Copy Link
    News Alerts
    WhatsApp

    As South Africans become increasingly tech savvy, they are looking at ways to make their homes smarter, to increase convenience and enhance safety by using a wide variety of DIY Internet-of-things (IoT) sensors that can be easily connected, and their data viewed remotely.

    Sensors are becoming smaller and cheaper, but with increased capability, lower power usage and durability. It is predicted that there could be 22 billion connected devices by 2025. Although the industrial IoT market is well established, an increase of sensors and solutions in the consumer market is expected — to enhance safety and for cost savings and convenience.

    A further enhancement to the above is the availability of IoT-specific networks such as the Sigfox network that is operated by Sqwidnet, which provides coverage across 93% of the South African population. The availability of these networks eliminates the installation of home or business networks. Combine this with low-powered, user-replaceable batteries and power issues are eliminated and the user can view the IoT devices without any restrictions.

    The sensors that are available vary in complexity to suit all requirements, which can be for industrial, commercial or residential use

    The sensors that are available vary in complexity to suit all requirements, which can be for industrial, commercial or residential use. Using an IoT mobile application or Web app, the user has the ability to change certain measurable parameters or conditions on the sensors, via the IoT network. The information received from the sensors can be viewed and analysed and can trigger an alarm to assist the user to react to a condition and react, if necessary.

    These easy-to-install sensors provide users with flexibility in that sensors can be moved around to suit changing conditions or requirements. Some basic sensors that are available to the consumer market include smoke detection, water leak detection, door open/closed sensors, AC power on/off, temperature sensors with a minimum and maximum setting, vibration sensors, and GPS-tracking sensors.

    Consumer IoT as a service

    At its most basic level, an IoT solution comprises three main components: sensors, a data transmission network, and a platform to analyse and view the information. More complex IoT solutions are also available, with a level of artificial intelligence that integrates with other automated components to achieve the desired outcome, such as automated switching on of lights when dark or temperature control.

    Although IoT is still in its infancy, the use of the technology was predicted many years ago and can be associated with the following statements:

    • 1926: Nikola Tesla said: “When wireless¹ is perfectly applied, the whole Earth will be converted into a huge brain, which in fact it is, all things being particles of a real and rhythmic whole … and the instruments through which we shall be able to do this will be amazingly simple compared to our present telephone. A man will be able to carry one in his vest pocket.” (¹Not the 802.11 version.)
    • 1950: Alan Turing wrote in an article: “It can also be maintained that it is best to provide the machine with the best sense organs that money can buy, and then teach it to understand and speak English. This process could follow the normal teaching of a child.”

    We live in a connected world, and people are looking for ways to use IoT and other smart devices to increase convenience and safety, improve energy efficiency and even save on costs. Given the way in which these sensors work, they can be used for multiple purposes across the home. The use cases are numerous and are only limited by the user’s imagination.

    • The author, Poena van Heerden, is senior product manager for IoT at Vox


    IoT Poena van Heerden Sigfox SqwidNet Vox
    Subscribe to TechCentral Subscribe to TechCentral
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Email Copy Link
    Previous ArticleWhite paper: How to get enterprise programme management right
    Next Article MTN, ZTE accused in US lawsuit of aiding Iraq terror

    Related Posts

    Speed tests and the missing megabits: why you can’t hit 1Gbit/s

    26 June 2025

    How South Africa’s municipalities are finally getting smart

    12 June 2025

    Sigfox South Africa unveils next-gen asset intelligence for smarter logistics

    15 May 2025
    Company News

    Huawei South Africa Partners Forum 2025: joining hands for a digital, intelligent future

    8 July 2025

    Powering South Africa’s industrial intelligence with Huawei Cloud’s AI-native innovations

    8 July 2025

    Rain launches a new way to connect. It’s a loop

    8 July 2025
    Opinion

    In defence of equity alternatives for BEE

    30 June 2025

    E-commerce in ICT distribution: enabler or disruptor?

    30 June 2025

    South Africa pioneered drone laws a decade ago – now it must catch up

    17 June 2025

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    © 2009 - 2025 NewsCentral Media

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.