Dark Fibre Africa-owned Internet-of-things (IoT) network operator SqwidNet said on Tuesday that it has expanded coverage to eight metropolitan areas – East London, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Cape Town, Bloemfontein, the East Rand, Pretoria and Johannesburg.

The company, which is building its IoT network based on technology developed by France’s Sigfox, said the network already covers about 38% of the South African population, and the network will grow to cover more than 85% of the population within a year.

“The network is being expanded to cover all the national roads as SqwidNet focuses on providing solutions to key verticals, including utilities, transport and logistics, security, supply chain and retail services,” said CEO Reshaad Sha in a statement.

SqwidNet is one of several IoT network deployments taking place in South Africa based on different technologies.

Sha said IoT will play an important role in the so-called “fourth industrial revolution” in which “contextual insight drives more efficient use of resources, including energy, water and production and service capacity”.

SqwidNet’s network will eventually provide nationwide coverage for IoT, where millions of sensors and devices send small packets of data for, for example, analysis, immediate action and record keeping.