Michael Stribling, Spark’s General Manager IoT Solutions, said, “Our IoT capability is really gathering pace, and now we’ve got this
critical mass of coverage we’re able to make the network commercially
available. This is a real milestone for Spark as we help New Zealand
organisations win big in IoT.
“While we currently have 60% of rural and urban New Zealand covered, we’ll be working to extend that to 70% by July this year. We’re also
looking to partner with organisations to extend coverage into areas
where they need it.”
The network uses LoRaWAN? technology, which carries small amounts of data over long distances, using less power than cellular networks. This
makes it ideal for connecting objects far from power sources. For
example, to monitor an outdoor carpark or an employee working in a
remote area.
Compared to cellular connectivity, Spark’s new long-range network is an affordable IoT option. It works with a wide range of low-cost sensor
technologies that are significantly cheaper on average than sensors for
cellular networks.
The cost to use the network is based on the number of sensors connected, and the number of messages those sensors send each month. For
example, a dairy farm in the Manawatu wanting an hourly update on the
location and body temperature of its cows will pay up to $1.79 per cow
each month for connectivity. Designed for scale, the cost per connection
decreases as the number of sensors increases.
