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Internet-of-Things (IoT) startup SigFox says it will expand its wireless network using unlicensed frequencies to 100 U.S. cities, posing a challenge to AT&T ( T ), Verizon Communications ( VZ ) and T-Mobile ( TMUS ). The IoT refers to wireless technology that connects industrial, medical, automotive and consumer devices to the Internet. Wireless networks operated by Verizon and AT&T are competing with non-cellular technologies — mainly Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and ZigBee — in IoT deployment. AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile have been counting on the IoT, also called machine-to-machine communications (M2M), as a growth driver amid fierce price competition in wireless data services. Both AT&T and Verizon have been focused on Web-connected cars, as well as “smart cities” that have remote monitoring of street lights, utility meters and road conditions. France-based SigFox has been targeting industrial IoT applications. SigFox uses unlicensed, Wi-Fi-type radio frequencies to connect M2M devices. It’s well-funded , having raised more than $150 million from investors, according to TechCrunch. SigFox began testing its technology in Silicon Valley in 2014. According to SigFox, it has 7 million devices connected to its network in 18 countries. “U.S. is a huge growth market for Internet of Things connectivity, especially in smart cities, utilities, shipping and agriculture sectors that require large-scale and cost-effective communication,” said Allen Proithis, president of SigFox North America, in a press release. AT&T and Verizon are pushing the federal government to make high-frequency radio spectrum available for 5G services, which include low-power IoT applications. Scalper1 News
Scalper1 News