Italian IoT network on the way after latest SIGFOX deal confirmed

Italy has become the tenth European country to enter agreement with cellular, industrial IoT specialist SIGFOX.

EI Towers, an Italian radio tower specialist, and its subsidiary NETTROTTER have confirmed the partnership with SIGFOX to deliver a nationwide IoT network capable of delivering industrial-grade machine to machine connectivity over cellular networks. At present, Italy is one of Europe’s biggest M2M markets with more than 7 million live connections. SIGFOX, which currently has operations across Northern Europe and the US, claims to have more than 5 million registered IoT devices on its network today, and stands to gain a high number of additions should it claim a sizeable share of the Italian market.

Speaking of the agreement, NETTROTTER’s CEO Carlos Lambarri is excited for its plans to drive IoT uptake through the country.

“Italian IoT customers are keen to adopt new, beneficial technology applications across multiple sectors such as smart cities, health care, manufacturing, construction, transportation and safet and security,” he said. “The SIGFOX network is key to NETTROTTER’s plan to install and operate the IoT throughout Italy, because it provides highly scalable connectivity at low-cost and very low energy consumption for connected devices.”

SIGFOX’s EVP of networks and operators, Rodolphe Baronnet-Frugès meanwhile believes the Italian M2M and IoT sector will stand to gain from connecting to its international, pan-European network.

“This partnership with EI Towers and NETROTTER is another great example of SIGFOX’s ability to work with entrepreneurial companies that want to rapidly roll out our network across a large area,” he said. “Coupled with EI Towers’ excellent footprint, it will quickly implement a vital IoT ecosystem in Italy. Italy has a very dynamic electronic industry at the forefront of the world IoT industry. We are excited to work with our partners and assist in bridging the Italian IoT initiatives with the rest of the world.”