Today at Connect 2019, the largest IoT marketplace, Sigfox, the IoT service provider and first global 0G network operator, announced two complementary, powerful new offers that significantly enhance the accuracy of its major geolocation services: Atlas Native and Atlas Wi-Fi.
Atlas Native Complimentary
Launched in January 2017, Atlas Native is claimed to be the first Sigfox geolocation service, solely based on the Sigfox network. The service is available for every device equipped with the simplest Sigfox module, without GPS or any other additional hardware/software component.
Now, solution makers with GPS-devices can benefit from the Atlas Native Complimentary service free of charge in exchange for data processing rights, with several major names already on board. Thanks to this GPS location data and its comparison with the Sigfox network fingerprints, the machine learning algorithms used to compute Atlas will reduce the uncertainty of the “real” location of the asset and improve geolocation accuracy, down to 800 meters.
Benjamin Mazet, product management director on the global Sigfox portfolio, said, “With this partnership offer and the machine learning algorithms used to compute and improve Atlas accuracy, Sigfox is constantly enhancing the quality of its geolocation services, bringing huge benefits to new and existing Sigfox customers – literally at the flick of a switch and by always keeping the device as simple as possible.”
Atlas Wi-Fi deployment complete
In a second accuracy-honing development, Sigfox has now completed the global rollout of Atlas Wi-Fi in partnership with HERE Technologies, creating a global location service that will open new opportunities for IoT applications, particularly in supply chain and logistics.
Atlas Wi-Fi takes advantage of HERE Technologies’ global database of Wi-Fi access points, which can now be queried by Sigfox Wi-Fi trackers and, by reporting the unique MAC addresses to the cloud, generating a far more accurate asset position, and a seamless outdoor and indoor geolocation service.
As determining Wi-Fi-based location consumes less battery than using GPS, Atlas Wi-Fi enables long life IoT tracking solutions – a key requirement for supply chain and logistics applications.
“We are pleased that this partnership with HERE Technologies has delivered a successful product in Atlas Wi-Fi and are intensifying mutual R&D activities to develop new IoT products and services for the future,” added Benjamin Mazet.
The value of IoT tracking solutions in the global supply chain is increasingly well recognised, with Sigfox customers such as DHL and Groupe PSA actively deploying real-world asset tracking and logistics solutions at significant scale.
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