Swiss network for Internet of Things live
The Internet of Things (IoT) is taking over everyday life: fitness wristbands, networked weather stations, IP cameras and sensors. Conceptually, this is nothing new; devices have been networked for years. What is new, however, is that this is happening via a uniform IP basis, wirelessly, energy-efficiently and cost-effectively, as Swisscom writes.
Swisscom has launched the Low Power Network, a network for the Internet of Things in Switzerland. The first pioneers have developed and tested new applications together with the Swiss provider. A few examples: Mobiliar Insurance's Findme tracker tracks items such as bunches of keys, bicycles or luggage.
VonRoll hydro is testing LPN sensors to check manhole covers or to detect water leaks in manholes and quickly display the data on its Hydroport portal. Migros is testing a platform that better allocates meeting rooms by capturing actual rather than booked occupancy.
Further application examples
With additional sensors, the system ensures that cooling or lighting is only provided when someone is in the room. The startup Tecsag from central Switzerland is testing a tracker for farm animals (www.alptracker.com). This means that even on a remote alpine pasture, every animal can be found and monitoring provides a more accurate picture of herd behaviour.
Entsorgung & Recycling Stadt Zürich tracks the locations and transport routes of large containers. These are just a few examples of the more than 30 pilot projects, as Swisscom writes.
Experience Center for experts
The company is open to partnerships. Partners could either bring in their own locations for network densification or contribute their expertise in solution design. The telecommunications company plans to open a Low Power Network Experience Center in Zurich at the end of the year, which will make LPN, hardware and application possibilities tangible and enable an exchange with experts.
