New networks will maximise coverage, lower costs and reduce power consumption for IoT devices

13^th September – Three Ireland has launched two Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) to the Irish market. This specialised category of wireless networks is designed to maximise coverage, lower costs and reduce power consumption for IoT (Internet of Things) devices.

The addition of these networks to Three Ireland’s offering demonstrates the company’s evolution as an IoT leader, as it now holds 66.6% of the IoT market in Ireland. 

Three’s new IoT networks will support IoT into the future enabling end device cost reduction, enhanced  coverage for IoT devices located underground or harder to reach places, and extended battery life lasting upwards of 10 years. In addition, LPWAN uses Three’s licensed spectrum, which offers an additional layer of security and protection when creating your IoT solution. 

The two types of LPWAN networks being launched – NB-IoT or Narrow-Band IoT and LTE-M – offer a range of unique features to the Irish market. Both networks will improve power consumption on devices utilising a technology called PSM (Power Saving Mode) that enables devices to sleep when not in use, and eDRX (Enhanced Discontinuous Reception) that allows it to extend the timeframe when devices send updates. Both of these features enable extended battery life in IoT devices. 

Three has been working with a range of companies who are utilising these networks to offer new customer solutions to the marketplace including 8 West Consulting in partnership with Sony Network Communications Europe as well as Navigil – both of which offer smart watches utilising the LTE-M network to boost signal and battery life, Trimble - which use battery based IoT for measuring critical parameters of the water network in difficult to reach or underground locations, Cyberlok – which utilises the NB-IoT network to authenticate and unlock devices while extending the battery life by years, and Binary Tech – which utilise the LPWAN networks to track mobile assets from beer kegs to pathology samples, optimising their supply chains and protecting sensitive goods in transit. 

These LPWAN networks will continue to enhance IoT connectivity into the future and enable the creation and growth of new IoT solutions in the Irish and global marketplace. 

For further information on how to get access to Three’s IoT networks please contact iotsales@three.ie.