The IoT (Internet of Things) is destined to be everywhere and include even the smallest things. So long as they have useful data, they can be connected so that data is shared and used to create new value. That includes meters of all sorts, white goods, sensors in public parking spaces, in street lights, in waste bins and many more.
The problem is, until now, it has been particularly difficult to get this right for all things that could connect to the internet, not just the big or perceived expensive things. There are literally billions of small data endpoints in our world that together can offer a rich picture of what’s happening. To do this effectively, cost effective wireless connectivity is absolutely essential, especially if you consider the endpoints may need to connect over long distances. They may be underground, across bodies of water, in remote locations and often inaccessible once installed, and device battery power that last for years, not hours. At the same time, the connection must be reliable. If the data is used as part of a business process or a commercial service, it's often vital that message be reliably received. Service revenue and customer relationships often depend on that. At the same time, the connectivity needs to be low cost and easily deployed. Ideally, it needs to be a fraction of the cost of the “thing” it is connecting and it needs to be available anywhere – everywhere. LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) network technology is designed to meet these challenges.
