Sigfox SA, the internet-of-things (IoT) network operator, has secured a contract from national treasury to supply the technology that will underpin South Africa’s new smart water meter ecosystem.
“The tender, commonly known as ‘RT29’ [and] awarded to various system integrators, will see existing meters adapted or replaced to become smart meters to improve revenue collection and service delivery,” Sigfox said in a statement on Wednesday. “All the new meters will run on the nationwide Sigfox IoT network.”
The South African Sigfox network, which is based on a French-developed technology of the same name, was originally built by SqwidNet, then a subsidiary of Dark Fibre Africa, but it was later rescued by customers of the network and relaunched.
Sigfox SA CEO Greg Rood said in the statement: “The fact that national treasury has entrusted Sigfox to monitor and support over 15 million smart water meters in the country underlines how robust the technology is. We expect this to be a catalyst to further grow our local IoT and system integrator ecosystem.
“Sigfox 0G is a preferred technology for utilities around the world and has an established track record of supporting large commercial utility deployments in South Africa. The superior range and penetration of the advanced Sigfox ultra-narrowband signal makes it the ideal connectivity choice to reach meters that are often installed in challenging environments,” he said.
The Sigfox network covers 91% of the South African population. “Should there be a need to extend or densify the network, this can be achieved quickly and cost-effectively,” said Rood.
‘Install and forget’
Sigfox’s low-power network technology means a device can run on the same battery for over 10 years.
“Our devices will last for over 10 years at one reading a day, which far exceeds the three-year lifespan stipulated on the tender. Due to this extended lifespan, it’s practically an ‘install and forget’ scenario, which cuts costs and optimises resources.” — © 2024 NewsCentral Media