Deutsche Telekom will build out its Narrowband-IoT network in eight countries across Europe over the coming year after successful pilot projects in Germany.
It announced that it would upgrade its base stations throughout Europe to support NB-IoT using the 900 MHz and 800 MHz frequencies, with the aim of launching the network in Germany, the Netherlands, Greece, Poland, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia and Croatia in 2017.
The NB-IoT roll-out in Germany is already under way and will be launched commercially in the second quarter of the year. A number of programmes are already operating with large clients, including in the areas of smart metering, smart parking and asset tracking.
In the Netherlands, the nationwide implementation of the NB-IoT network is slated for completion by the end of 2017. Deutsche Telekom reported that several companies had already signed on to use the network, including indoor climate specialist Itho Daalderop, railway maintenance specialist Dual Inventive and sensor maker Smartsensors.
In other European markets, the NB-IoT network will be extended on a city-by-city basis over the course of the year.
Deutsche Telekom is also operating its NB-IoT Prototyping Hub from its labs in Berlin and Krakow. The programme allows potential customers to work with IoT developers to test new applications and sensors. The NB-IoT network offers 20 dB more coverage than GSM within buildings, a battery life of up to ten years for connected devices and security standardisation by 3GPP, according to Deutsche Telekom.
To implement the system, Deutsche Telekom is co-operating with German energy service provider ista, who will focus on intelligent recording, visualisation and billing of energy consumption within the new network.
The announcement of the roll-out comes four months after the Telekom demonstrated a world first live NB-IoT end-to-end system.
