Comsol and Actility partner to build large African IoT network

Comsol’s open architecture, open platform Low Power Wide Area National network deployment, Comsol IoT, has been launched. Backed by a global alliance and driven by international giants such as Cisco and IBM, the latest generation IoT network offers low cost, long range, low power IoT connectivity, capable of supporting geolocation.

The Comsol IoT network will be deployed on the back of Comsol’s R1,5 Billion Open Access Layer 2 National network investment and will be available for sensor service termination by February 2017 in the major metros.

The Internet of Things is fast becoming a reality. Forrester reports that 23% of enterprises currently use the IoT, with another 29% planning to do so within 12 months. According to recent research by CompTIA, the number of connected things is projected to grow at an annual compound rate of 23.1% between 2014 to 2020, reaching 50.1 billion things in 2020.

However, connecting these billions of devices is a challenge for traditional networks as many don’t have the reach to cover vast geographical areas, and most involve high costs.

LoRa Wide Area Network technology solves these challenges. Enabling a flexible IoT network ideal for the efficient and cost-effective monitoring and management of assets and infrastructure, these low power networks enable wireless connectivity for millions of sensors and smart devices over wide geographical areas.

These networks have already been deployed nationally in countries such as The Netherlands, South Korea, and Japan with localised deployments in other countries around the world. Comsol has now initiated the largest deployment of this technology on the African continent with the launch of Comsol IoT.

“IoT offers solutions for smart cities, smart businesses, and even many of the challenges we face as a society, for example managing scarce resources like water. By enabling smart tracking, smart perimeter control, smart agriculture, smart buildings, as well as smart city applications like metering and manhole cover monitoring, IoT is already fundamentally changing how we live. We are proud to introduce the network that is going to empower African utilities, businesses, and individuals to gain the benefits the IoT offers,” says Iain Stevenson, CEO of Comsol.

Designed to avoid interference, Comsol IoT combines the wide coverage area of cellular networks with low-power radio technology to provide connectivity in a single, cost-effective and secure wireless network. Serving a previously unaddressed market, Comsol IoT offers broad geographic coverage – including urban and rural areas – to create an ecosystem that supports the connectivity of millions of devices.

“Comsol IoT is the ideal solution for applications where power-constrained devices are distributed over large geographical areas. So in the case of water or electricity meters, or agricultural monitoring, to name a few, the network offers wide reach as well as power and cost savings. Battery life of up to 15 years can be achieved for some of these devices due to the relatively small data sets and transmission rates enabled by Comsol IoT. The high costs associated with manual monitoring, replacement of batteries and GPS devices are also no longer factors for organisations wanting to run a smart operation,” says Justin Colyn, Executive Head of IoT of Comsol.

He adds that this provides opportunities for the developers operating in the market as well as the businesses leveraging the IoT solutions being created. “By virtue of the fact that Comsol IoT is an open access, open protocol network, any IoT applications that are developed will be seamlessly enabled to the devices and sensors they are meant to serve. There’s no vendor lock-in, creating a diverse ecosystem that will serve to take African IoT to the next level.”

Comsol’s drive to connect Africa, without limits, has extended this deployment to include securing several device distribution agreements in South Africa. And by partnering with Actility, a global leader in Low Power Wide Area network software, Comsol has enabled South African customers to benefit from a complete solution.

“Actility is an industry leader in Low Power Wide Area Networks. ThingPark by Actility offers a carrier-grade IoT platform, with a growing ecosystem of partners; low-power, long-range wireless networks for sensors and devices; an operating system and middleware that enables web applications to connect seamlessly with data from different sensors; and a B2B e-commerce market featuring tested and approved IoT device, connectivity, and application partners,” explains Actility CEO Mike Mulica.

“We are delighted to be supporting Comsol in rolling out a national IoT network for South Africa,” Mulica adds. “Comsol is one of the most innovative communication service providers in the world today, committed to a wide range of connectivity options to create the optimum network for every application. We are very happy that Comsol has chosen LoRaWAN to complement their existing network for the incredibly diverse range of IoT use cases expected in South Africa, and that they have chosen Actility’s carrier-grade ThingPark platform to enable that network.”

Stevenson adds that Comsol IoT will not only provide an end-to-end solution for organisations moving into the IoT world, it offers a platform on which an entire ecosystem can be created to address the challenges the modern world faces.

“IDC predicts that 25% of all IoT applications will be running over low power WANs like Comsol IoT by 2020. We are proud to be able to ensure that Africa’s IoT-enabled devices are not only connected by the most reliable and cost-effective network, but that they are able to create changes in the way agriculture, resource, and conservation management are conducted. IoT will change the face of the continent, and Comsol is honored to be at the forefront of that revolution.”

Comsol, backed by Convergence Partners, Nedbank Private Equity and the Industrial Development Corporation as investment partners, has launched Comsol Fibre Connect, South Africa’s nationwide open access high-speed carrier grade data network. The network will connect enterprises in both major metros and small towns. The transaction sees the private equity business of Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking, becoming a 25% shareholder in Comsol, alongside existing shareholders Convergence Partners and the management team of Comsol.

Comsol Fibre Connect offers carriers and service providers to connect their customers with speeds from 2 Mbps up to 1 Gbps in just six working days. The combination of a fibre optic backbone with a high-speed, fully licensed wireless infrastructure provides near coverage of metros, cities and district councils.

The key advantage of Comsol Fibre Connect is that customers are guaranteed connectivity of a high capacity product, underpinned by a carrier grade service level agreement. The first elements of the network have already been rolled out and are fully operational, with the bulk of the rollout anticipated to be concluded by the end of the year.

The initial funding which equates to over half a billion Rand will be provided by Convergence Partners, Nedbank Private Equity and the IDC. In addition to the funding raised for the initial rollout, Comsol expects to reinvest and spend a further R 1 billion on existing fibre infrastructure and leased fibre, creating a massive opportunity for existing fibre players in the market.

“With the advent of Big Data, Internet of Things and cloud-based business applications and the increasing need for companies to use high-speed connectivity, the requirement for high-speed internet access is growing across businesses of all sizes and in all sectors. Whether an office, a platinum mine in an outlying area, or a retail branch in a small town, a robust fast, efficient network is essential to growing and maintaining business operations,” says Iain Stevenson, CEO of Comsol.

He adds that despite the investments made into fibre networks, they are not yet far-reaching enough, take too long to deploy and are extremely expensive for the provider to build everywhere. Comsol Fibre Connect will not only allow companies to access the speeds and quality of fibre connectivity in much faster deployment times at a lower cost, but it also offers true coverage for the majority of businesses across the country – even those with branches in outlying areas.

In addition to its extensive coverage in the major metros, cities and district councils, Comsol will connect over 200 towns and cities across the country via Comsol Fibre Connect. Deployment in outlying areas has begun, with majority of towns to be connected by December this year.

Since its inception in 1997 Comsol has installed thousands of wireless connections across the African continent. Comsol has licenses including an Individual Electronic Communication Network Services, Individual Electronic Communication Services and national spectrum licenses issued by ICASA.

Comsol Fibre Network will be an open access, carrier grade network. It will be available through major telcos, carriers, ISP and content providers. Comsol Fibre Connect is medium agnostic, combining the best of fibre and high capacity, licensed band wireless technologies to offer products ranging from 2 Mbps up to 1 Gbps.

Founded in 2006, Convergence Partners is an investment management firm focused on the telecommunications, media and technology sector in Africa. Across both its portfolios, Convergence Partners manages close to $300 million of capital. Nedbank Private Equity is a private equity investor in Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking, which is part of the Nedbank Group Limited.