The largest mobile operator in the Netherlands, KPN announced that its LoRa Internet-of-Thing(IoT) network is available throughout the Netherlands. This makes the Netherlands the first country in the world to have a nationwide LoRa network for IoT applications.
The operator has over the past eight months rolled out the network, making it available outdoors throughout the country. KPN’s LoRa went live at the beginning of November 2015 in Rotterdam and The Hague. Because of substantial customer interest, the rollout was speeded up at the beginning of the year, said the Operator.
The existence of the easily accessible LoRa network makes it simple to develop smart applications and to optimize processes and services. KPN has already contracted 1.5 million ‘devices’ that will be connected to the LoRa network. This number is expected to grow rapidly now that the network is available nationwide. In the months ahead KPN will further optimize the LoRa network by condensing the network and enable the much-requested localization functionality.
The first IoT application has already been connected to the network and numerous proofs of concept are being tested at the same time. For example, at Schiphol Airport, LoRa is being tested in logistical processes such as baggage handling and for facility services. In addition, an experiment is being carried out at the Utrecht Central station that allows LoRa to monitor rail switches, and depth sounders at the port of Rotterdam have been fitted with devices to connect them to the IoT network. KPN expects LoRa applications for consumers to become more widely available in the course of this year.
Joost Farwerck, Chief Operations Officer and member of the Board of Management of KPN
Last year we identified an increasing demand for low-power network technology for Internet of Things applications. We are responding to this by choosing LoRa, so millions of devices can be connected to the internet in a cost-effective manner.
