Tata Communications successfully conducts trials of low-power network for IoT devices

Tata Communications yesterday said it had successfully conducted trials of a low-power network for connected devices in Delhi and Mumbai, PTI reported.

This would bolster the successful deployment of IoT applications in the country, it added.

Tata Communications said in a statement it had, ''… successfully conducted trials of new low-power wide area network (LPWAN) based on LoRa technology for connected devices and cutting-edge Internet of Things (IoT) applications across Mumbai and Delhi,'' .

The company plans to roll out the network across the country, with full coverage starting in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.

With the low-power, secure, bi-directional, communication solution, any organization could connect objects and applications and overcome high power consumption challenges with existing wireless solutions.

''The first phase targets to cover 400 million people across tier 1, 2, 3 and 4 cities,'' it added.

In addition to low power consumption, according to Tata Communications, the network had unprecedented reach, allowing communications in deep water and up to 50 metres underground.

''This makes it suitable for use in metro stations and car parks. The signal of the network is extremely strong, cutting through up to seven walls inside buildings. It is also suitable for rural areas due to its 15-km range,'' it added.

''Women safety is an area where our network can be of great help. Therefore, we are building a device, which will be made in India and would help improve women's safety,'' Tri Pham, chief strategy officer at Tata Communications, told BusinessLine.

The company was talking with partners to build the device in India and was running trials to launch its IoT network by the end of first quarter of 2016.

IoT is rapidly gaining acceptability across sectors where enterprises and government agencies were using it for monitoring electricity meters, industrial machinery, leakages in oil pipelines and even in improving the efficiency of electrical grids.