Telefonica has announced a deal to integrate the low-power technology of IoT network operator Sigfox into its managed connectivity platform. The partners said the combination of their respective mobile connectivity offerings will allow customers to benefit from the best of both worlds when developing new IoT solutions. Advantages include additional security, reliability (backup and troubleshooting) and anti-jamming. Telefonica added that it will also be able to develop its own end-to-end IoT solutions, based on Sigfox’s cloud and including device integration as well as data collection and management.
The two companies said they’re already in discussions with customers to deliver mass IoT rollouts across Europe and Latin America in 2017, above all in the asset-tracking and smart-metering industries. Sigfox added that WND, its local partner in Latin America, has already started negotiating with Telefonica's units in the region.
Telefonica was among the investors in Sigfox in 2015 when it raised a total EUR 100 million from several operators. In addition to working with Sigfox, Telefonica expects to launch later this year NB-IoT services based on its LTE mobile networks.
