Does the Internet of Things, or IoT, require its own internet? At the end of June, the Dutch introduced the first low range, low power (LoRa) network to cover an entire nation, coming from a telecom company called KPN. This new network has raised questions if other countries should follow suit, so you may want to understand why a LoRa made sense in the Netherlands and might make sense elsewhere.
Why Does the IoT Need a Dedicated Internet?
Connected devices have three requirements:
- A device with the capacity to make a connection;
- An app to run the device;
- A network to connect through.
First, consider how connected devices communicate today. Household and office devices in places equipped with cable are usually hard-wired into the network or connected via Wi-Fi, just like personal computers. Mobile devices can be connected to Wi-Fi as well, but achieve true mobility by using 4G and 3G networks.
One problem with current IoT connections is that cable and mobile networks simply don’t extend everywhere. Mobile users who travel into the country may still encounter places with little to no coverage. This is also true for people who live in rural areas without reliable cable service. However, IoT has expanded beyond these confines, with connected devices like smart cars and farm machinery frequently crossing into remote locations. When this happens, smart machines become completely useless, causing financial strain on farmers and difficulty for travelers.
Also, connected devices don’t require the same high-bandwidth internet that it takes to stream videos or listen to music. While a smart TV still requires powerful broadband to stream a movie, it requires very little to turn on the device and start recording a show. Since smart devices usually only send and receive a few instructions to complete each function, expanding regular broadband internet might be a waste of resources and power. This is why the Netherlands introduced its long range and low rate network specifically for the IoT. It extends the network and conserves resources at the same time.
At 7T, We Can Connect You to the IoT
Do you need connectivity solutions for your smart and mobile devices? At 7T, we make it our business to stay on top of trends in digital technology in order to offer our clients the best solutions. Contact us today to discuss your mobile development needs.
