Sigfox, a France-based IoT network operator, has recently appointed Bangkok-based Things on Net to use its technology – a low-power network system that allows remote connectivity and continuous small messages sent among IoT devices.
Things on Net, which has registered capital of 100 million baht, is under the umbrella of Platt Nera, a Thai outsourcing and systems integrator.
“Thailand has one of the region’s highest levels of digital investment, setting a pace to be matched across Asia. Thailand 4.0 is being embraced across industries and users alike, creating demand for exactly the massive IoT services Things on Net and Sigfox offer“ said Roswell Wolff, president of Sigfox Asia-Pacific, in a statement.
“In addition, with its key location between China, the region and global transportation hubs, we consider Thailand to be a key market for Sigfox, our partners, and our customers,” he added.
Sigfox network spans across 65 countries, supporting billions of devices. In Asean, it was introduced in Thailand after Singapore and Malaysia.
Sigfox’s technology is renowned for monitoring parcels and outdoor conditions, from streetlights in urban cities to livestock in farms – all which are key features in the Thai market.
Thanks to energy efficiency and long-life batteries, these devices require low maintenance. When devices are taken abroad, the automatic roaming system will connect them with Sigfox signals in different countries around the world.
Things on Net hopes to be a major player in the country’s IoT ecosystem, which also includes companies such as CAT Telecom, which provides the LoRaWan network; and Advanced Info Services (AIS), which is delivering NB-IoT technology.
Prapan Asavaplungprohm, Things on Net CEO, said that the company plans to set up 1,400 base stations nationwide by 2020 – at a cost of about 600 to 800 million baht – to cover 85% of the population. Currently, the company’s network covers Bangkok and seven major cities now.
In an interview with Bangkok Post, Asavaplungprohm said he sees an opportunity in IoT because of increasing user awareness and lower cost of connected devices.
"This is the right time for Thailand to embrace more IoT, as the price of a sensor has dropped to $2 from $10," he told the paper.
