Category Archives: Business Insides News France

UnaBiz Equips TotalEnergies Service Station Stores with 3,000 Temperature Sensors to Enhance Food Safety.

TotalEnergies signs agreement with UnaBiz, Massive IoT service provider and integrator, to equip motorway service station stores with sensors to monitor the temperature control of refrigeration units.

Today, more than 160 motorway service stations in the TotalEnergies network are equipped with around 3,000 refrigeration temperature sensors powered by Sigfox 0G technology.

The digital cold chain monitoring solution provided by UnaBiz empowers TotalEnergies to bolster its sanitary control plans and adhere to Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP¹) principles, bringing food security to the food service industry.

Powered by Sigfox 0G technology, the sensor solution provided by UnaBiz France automatically records temperature readings in the refrigerated units, ensuring compliance with health standards in the stores and restaurants of TotalEnergies service stations. As the sensors transmit information wirelessly from the refrigeration units to the customers’ system, the TotalEnergies team access the consolidated temperature and stock data, as well as product use-by dates easily via a computer and tablet.

UnaBiz France takes the lead in providing all essential components for deploying and operating the system. This comprehensive support encompasses equipment availability, logistics, installation, and access to a user-friendly app designed for station managers.

For the TotalEnergies teams, who previously took temperature readings manually several times a day, this real-time monitoring solution brings about substantial time-savings.

The implemented solution serves as an analysis tool, ensuring product traceability and data accuracy. It anticipates breakdowns, prioritizing food safety, and product/service quality at TotalEnergies’ network stations.

In addition to enhancing food safety, this solution aids in energy conservation by preventing unnecessary energy costs associated with improperly regulated storage temperatures.

Bolstered by these benefits, this 3-year partnership is currently being extended to other TotalEnergies service stations in Europe and Africa.

Arnaud Tayac, General Manager of UnaBiz France says:

“UnaBiz is proud to play a key role in this initiative, providing essential components and expertise for the deployment and maintenance of the system. Our partnership with TotalEnergies is a concrete example of how Sigfox 0G technology can be used to optimize operational processes.”

¹ Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) is used in the food industry to identify potential food safety hazards, so that key actions, known as Critical Control Points (CCPs) can be created to reduce or eliminate the risks. HACCP helps F&B industry to put in place an effective integrated food safety management to ensure safety and traceability. The implementation of a Food Safety Management System based on HACCP principles is a legal requirement.

A groundbreaking collaboration between LPWAN industry leaders and LoRa Alliance® members Semtech, Actility, Arad, and Deviceroy has the world’s first commercial implementation and successful end-to-end interoperability test for the innovative relay feature utilizing LoRaWAN connectivity.

This cutting-edge advancement enables LoRaWAN packets from remote, isolated or hard to reach devices to be relayed by battery-operated relay nodes. This coverage extension is provided through a low-cost solution further lowering the total cost of ownership (TCO) of the LoRaWAN deployment. The relay feature promises to be a game changer for LoRaWAN-based use cases such as water, gas, and electricity metering, where stringent service level agreements demand cost efficient and unparalleled coverage for all devices within a geographical footprint.

Semtech, a pioneering force in LoRa technology, has seamlessly integrated the relay feature for both end-devices and relay nodes into their latest LoRa Basics™ Modem v4 stack. This integration fortifies the potential of LoRaWAN to provide low cost, exceptional coverage and connectivity across various applications.

Actility, a trailblazer in IoT connectivity solutions, has integrated the relay feature utilizing LoRaWAN into its renowned ThingPark™ Wireless and ThingPark™ Enterprise network platforms in Release 7.3. This inclusion is also available in the free-to-use Community edition of ThingPark™, which can be immediately used by developers to test their relay implementations utilizing LoRaWAN. To learn more, visit actility.com/relay.

Deviceroy, a key player in the IoT device industry, plays a pivotal role with Aria Relay, serving as a powerful range extender for LoRaWAN. Aria Relay ensures bidirectional connectivity, enabling data between remote or isolated devices and their destinations to flow reliably, significantly expanding network coverage. To learn more about the Aria Relay, visit deviceroy.com/relay.

The three vendors – Semtech, Actility, and Deviceroy – have successfully completed interoperability testing and achieved reliable end-to-end bidirectional communication with devices that can connect only through a LoRaWAN-based relay. This achievement underscores the reliability and seamlessness of the relay feature in real-world scenarios.

Arad, a visionary in water metering solutions, is poised to deploy the relay feature utilizing LoRaWAN within its water meter networks. This implementation has the potential to revolutionize utility management, offering unparalleled connectivity in even the most challenging environments.

The introduction of the relay feature utilizing LoRaWAN signals a new era in IoT connectivity, reshaping the possibilities for a more connected future across industries by enabling customers to add battery-operated, easy-to-deploy relay nodes that act as network extenders. These relay nodes can be placed in remote locations or in areas where signal strength is weak due to extreme distances or circumstances, effectively extending the range of existing gateway(s) and networks using LoRaWAN connectivity.

The LoRa Alliance is an open, non-profit association with the mission to support and promote the global adoption of the LoRaWAN standard. Members collaborate in a vibrant ecosystem of device makers, solution providers, system integrators and network operators, delivering the interoperability needed to scale IoT across the globe, using public, private, and hybrid networks. Crucially, the relay feature utilizing LoRaWAN is defined by the LoRa Alliance as an integral part of the LoRaWAN standard. This innovation aligns with the LoRa Alliance’s commitment to advance and standardize LoRaWAN-based technology to meet the evolving needs of the IoT landscape.

The Barra range is Digital Matter’s new low-cost, low-power device family that enables affordable and flexible indoor/outdoor IoT asset tracking and recovery in supply chain, logistics, equipment management, and more.

Digital Matter, leaders in low-power IoT asset tracking, today announced the expansion of their battery-powered IoT asset tracking portfolio with their new ‘Barra’ device family, a low-cost, low-power device range designed to address a wide range of asset tracking and recovery use cases.

The Barra range allows businesses to monitor assets that previously presented return on investment (ROI) hurdles due to the steep expenses linked with existing tracking solutions, including but not limited to pallet tracking, cargo, trolleys, packaging, and more.

The new range currently features three unique product variations—Barra Core, Barra Edge, and Barra GPS—to accommodate a broad range of deployment scenarios, catering to diverse location technology needs, accuracy requirements, and price points.

Ken Everett, CEO, Digital Matter, says:

“We wanted to make a cellular-based tracker that is more affordable than most decent Bluetooth tags, has up to 10 years battery life and still deliver the performance expected from a Digital Matter device.”

“I am very excited about the new markets that the Barra family opens up for our partners.”

Designed to be ‘deployed once’ with a battery life of over 10+ years, the Barra range substantially reduces device ownership and management costs by eliminating recharging cycles and frequent battery replacements, offering a more sustainable hardware option for businesses that require global asset visibility versus a ‘one and done’ device.

In addition to enhanced low-power design, the Barra range encompasses a variety of new features designed to optimize functionality and streamline deployment. New rugged housing with a slim form factor can be covertly installed on a large variety of assets and supports magnetic tamper detection and activation to further simplify and secure deployments.

The Barra Range offers businesses not only indoor and outdoor location tracking but also the capability to monitor ‘impact’, such as when assets are dropped or mishandled during transit. This ensures the safe handling of assets while also providing exception reporting.

The introduction of Digital Matter’s Barra series signifies a significant milestone in the IoT asset tracking sector. This innovation empowers businesses to leverage cost-effective, durable tracking solutions that offer outstanding performance and sustainability.

SignalFire Wireless Telemetry, a leading manufacturer of industrial wireless telemetry products, is proud to announce that their RANGER cellular transmitter is now certified by AT&T as “FIRSTNet Capable.”

As a FIRSTNET-approved device, the RANGER can serve as part of the independent communication network built for America’s first responders and the extended public safety community including law enforcement and fire protection services.

AT&T was selected by the federal government to build and manage FIRSTNet. According to the telecommunications company, FIRSTNet is the only national wireless platform that features a dedicated platform for routing FIRSTNet traffic, making it reliable and secure for public safety. It also provides dedicated coverage and capacity when needed.

The RANGER cellular transmitter will serve in a FIRSTNet network to transfer information gathered from sensing devices directly to the cloud, avoiding congestion with regular cellular traffic. Bypassing local networks, RANGER provides a more secure connection uncrowded by other traffic. Offering a web- and mobile-friendly SignalFire Cloud interface, the RANGER allows users to remotely monitor assets, view trends, and receive alarms either by text or email. It provides access to data in real-time on a laptop, PC, or mobile device.

In application, the RANGER could serve as part of a FirstNET network to inform about adequate water pressure, natural gas pipeline pressure, valve positions and more. The cellular transmitter could also alert the police department to different emergencies such as reservoir levels for public safety in advance of a road flood.

The RANGER underwent intensive testing for security and network stability to become a FIRSTNet-certified cellular device to be provisioned on the network.

“The RANGER design meets the cellular requirements for reliability in serving as part of a FIRSTNet network,” says Josh Schadel, GM/CTO of SignalFire.

Sandro Esposito, VP of Sales & Marketing for SignalFire, added:

“When configured as part of a FIRSTNet network, our cellular transmitter will enable mission-critical measurements to be reliably received in SignalFire’s cloud monitoring platform (or other platforms) whenever networks are congested.”

• MTN standardises on Eseye’s Integra platform for its next generation global eSIM IoT solution
• Enables MTN to sell IoT services (connectivity, IoT bundles, IoT verticals, and value-added services)

MTN South Africa, the subsidiary of MTN Group, Africa’s largest mobile network operator, announced that it has signed a multi-year agreement with global IoT connectivity solutions provider Eseye that will see it standardise on a global eSIM and IoT platform solution.

MTN South Africa provides voice, data, fintech, digital, enterprise, wholesale and API services to 36.5 million customers. Looking to bolster and enhance existing IoT SIM management capabilities, MTN was looking for a Connectivity Management Platform to complete its customer offering with the management of eSIMs, Global SIMS and have a multi-IMSI capability.

Following a rigorous and thorough tendering process, Eseye’s Integra IoT Platform for MNOs was selected to power the next-generation MTN IoT connectivity solution, which will see millions of IoT devices onboarded and connected. Through Eseye, MTN will provide multi-dimensional solutions that go beyond connectivity management to deliver on a range of IoT value added services.

Lawrence Juku, Head of IoT Solutions at MTN Business comments: “Our mission is to be Africa’s leading digital platform, unlocking economic growth through financial and digital solutions for consumers and businesses of all sizes. We aim to create a marketplace that supports digital economies through affordable, inclusive, simple and comprehensive services. Our strategic partnership with Eseye will enable us to sell diverse IoT services such as connectivity, IoT bundles, and value-added services to help our customers meet their IoT global needs.”

Juku continues:

“Eseye’s deep IoT connectivity platform technical expertise will serve MTN well in the future. Our new IoT Connectivity Management Platform, powered by Eseye, will enable us to meet our aggressive IoT connectivity goals, and deliver differentiated services across different IoT verticals.”

The agreement will see Eseye’s Integra solution deployed in South Africa, with the aim of expanding the solution to 18 operating companies across Africa. It will allow the different operating companies to evolve and utilise the solution to meet their own requirements and specific market needs. This involves integration with MTN’s current infrastructure, utilising Eseye’s deep engineering expertise and experience in deploying rapid IoT solutions to meet MTN’s global needs, and supporting customers with pan-African IoT deployments.

Moving forward MTN will have the capability to support customers with new IoT device connections, both across Africa and internationally. It will also deliver a future-proofed solution that allows for technology evolution and compliance with new standards and regulations.

Nick Earle, CEO, Eseye comments: “We are proud to be awarded this multi-year agreement with MTN, which is a significant contract for Eseye and demonstrates the calibre of not only our technology, but also our IoT expertise. This contract involves a complex technical process and we have already invested a huge amount of work in the technical project set-up phase, which will be ongoing for the foreseeable months. MTN chose Eseye because it had confidence in our ability to deliver, having done so for other global MNOs, and our technical know-how combined with our hardware, connectivity, software and end-to-end IoT services expertise, which is second to none in the market. We’re delighted that MTN, as one of our longest serving partners, has put its trust in Eseye to deliver a new global eSIM and IoT Platform that will help their customers achieve their extended IoT goals. Work is already well underway, and we are excited for what the future holds.”

With new capabilities available in Wiliot’s ambient IoT Visibility Platform, companies can now continuously monitor the humidity of products — as well as temperature, location, and carbon footprint — to reduce waste and enhance quality, freshness, safety, and sustainability across the supply chain.

Wiliot, the Internet of Things pioneer whose ambient IoT Visibility Platform is enabling trillions of “things” to gain intelligence, today announced it has achieved the breakthrough ability to sense and analyze humidity levels of individual products, in real-time, throughout the supply chain.

By adding humidity sensing to the company’s Visibility Platform — on top of Wiliot’s existing temperature, location, and carbon emissions sensing capabilities — Wiliot has made it possible for companies to better ensure the safety, integrity, freshness, and sustainability of moisture-sensitive products – end-to-end and at unprecedented scale.

Wiliot’s ability to enable continuous monitoring down to the product level is unlike any traceability technology available today.

“This is a game-changing technology achievement for supply chain visibility,” said Wiliot VP of Data Products & Algorithms, Thaddeus Segura.

“By adding humidity sensing to the Wiliot Visibility Platform, we are transforming the handling of products we all consume and depend on. Now companies can deliver impeccable quality to their customers while promoting sustainability and responsible resource utilization.”

The Wiliot Visibility Platform connects the digital and physical worlds through the Wiliot Cloud and Wiliot IoT Pixels, which are low-cost, self-powered, mass-manufactured postage stamp-sized compute devices affixed to products and packaging.

IoT Pixels continuously and automatically transmit data to the Wiliot Cloud via standard Bluetooth devices, greatly reducing the staffing and operational cost of traditional tracking methodologies, while also reducing error rates, waste, mis-shipments, mis-picks and out-of-stocks.

By using the latest technology to efficiently connect any item to the internet and embedding it with intelligence and awareness, companies can create more efficient, profitable, and sustainable supply chains.

With this latest launch, Wiliot engineers have now introduced to IoT Pixels a tiny membrane that detects humidity in the air. When an IoT Pixel is exposed to different humidity levels, the information is relayed wirelessly to the Wiliot Cloud. In the cloud, this humidity data is combined with temperature and location data to generate insights and timely alerts for staff that can better optimize supply chain operations.

“Based on this new humidity data, companies can now track, in real-time, the relative impact of environmental conditions on moisture-sensitive products – to improve their freshness, quality, safety, and integrity,” Segura continued. “Food retailers can apply freshness insights to their operations to ensure the freshest, ripest products are sold first, while healthcare companies can monitor the safe handling and storage of medicines and health commodities. The Wiliot Visibility Platform gives businesses an entirely new level of insight into their supply chains.”

Products, from produce to pharmaceuticals, have different humidity handling requirements. The Wiliot Visibility Platform helps ensure compliance from producer to distributor to retailer to pharmacy, delivering significant benefits for companies and consumers. Produce stays fresher longer, reducing the amount wasted due to rot and spoil; medicines, which must be stored at specific temperatures and humidity levels, stay safe; and vaccines, which require precise handling and environmental conditions to deliver their intended health benefits, remain effective.

“Wiliot, and the ambient IoT, are changing the way the world operates – helping businesses transition to fully automated, completely transparent, and increasingly sustainable supply chains,” concluded Segura. “Now, with humidity sensing added to our platform, we’re establishing a new baseline for product freshness, quality, and safety – which will pay significant dividends for businesses and consumers alike.”

Wiliot is currently working with many of the world’s largest companies across retail, logistics, apparel, CPG, and pharmaceuticals on a variety of ambient IoT projects.

The semiconductor market saw its first market growth since 2021 amid continued trade tensions, slow economic growth, and chip shortages.

IoT Analytics, a premier source of market insights and strategic business intelligence for the Internet of Things (IoT), has unveiled new research on the IoT semiconductor market.

This comprehensive report delves into the current status and market trends, along with the drivers, challenges, and opportunities for IoT semiconductor firms and IoT device/equipment manufacturers.

A key trend underscored is the increasing incorporation of AI chipsets in edge devices. This integration facilitates quicker and more intelligent data processing and decision-making at the source. Further investigation reveals how AI is capitalizing on NVIDIA chipsets, which are predominantly employed for high-performance computing and deep learning applications. Instances of industrial AI platforms based on various NVIDIA GPUs, including Jetson AGX Orin and Jetson Orin Nano, are presented. Additionally, a comprehensive analysis of other significant trends and technological advancements in the IoT semiconductor market is provided.

The findings are derived from the IoT Chipset and IoT Module Trends Report 2023, which is grounded in thorough research and interviews with industry experts and stakeholders. It serves as a crucial resource for anyone keen on comprehending the current landscape and future trajectory of the IoT semiconductor market. The report can be procured from the IoT Analytics website.

KEY QUOTES:

Knud Lasse Lueth, CEO at IoT Analytics, comments that “In an age underscored by chip shortages, geopolitical tensions, and the ascendancy of AI, the semiconductor landscape pulsates with innovation. The unfolding narratives around IoT semiconductors not only offer solutions to pressing global challenges like sustainability and energy efficiency, but also seize fresh horizons, such as harnessing AI at the edge.”

Satyajit Sinha, Principal Analyst at IoT Analytics, added that:

“The ongoing trade tensions between the US, China, and Taiwan have significantly impacted global chip supply chains, leading to disruptions, increased costs, and delays in production. The semiconductor industry is experiencing a significant transformation due to the rising demand for AI chipsets and IoT connectivity. However, the industry also faces challenges, such as a severe shortage of AI GPUs and automotive chips. Also, it affects IoT chips based on mature nodes.”

Quectel Wireless Solutions, a global IoT solutions provider, is pleased to announce the North America version of its ground-breaking LTE Cat 1 bis module, the EG800Q-NA, powered by the Qualcomm® QCX216 LTE IoT modem from Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

With its remarkably small form factor, this ground-breaking module is poised to completely transform the IoT industry in the North American market as its wide range of versatile applications and unparalleled connectivity capabilities are set to redefine the landscape.

The module delivers a maximum downlink data rate of 10Mbps and an uplink rate of 5Mbps, critical for a variety of high-performing IoT applications including smart utility meters, asset trackers, e-mobility, parking meters, and home automation. The EG800Q-NA’s support of Cat 1 bis allows it to use a single antenna, balancing cost and performance and making the module an ideal solution for IoT terminals that are designed to be compact and cost-effective.

One of the standout features of the EG800Q-NA is its comprehensive support for North American bands, empowering businesses and developers to create IoT solutions that seamlessly communicate across diverse networks, ensuring a streamlined and efficient user experience. Certification is in process for the leading US operators, underscoring the module’s efficacy for the North American market and certification is underway for the FCC, IC, GCF and PTRCB.

“We’re thrilled to introduce the EG800Q-NA module to our customers in North America,” stated Norbert Muhrer, President and CSO, Quectel Wireless Solutions.

“As one of the pioneering modules built upon the Qualcomm QCX216 LTE IoT Modem, it perfectly caters to a wide range of mid-range applications and deployment scenarios where dependable and economical communication solutions are essential.”

The Quectel EG800Q-NA redefines compactness, measuring at an astonishingly small size of just 17.7mm x 15.8mm x 2.4mm. Its compact form factor, extensive network compatibility, and adaptable regional capabilities position it at the forefront of the industry. An array of robust Internet protocols and industry-standard interfaces including USB 2.0, UART, I2C, PCM, and USIM further enhance its versatility across various IoT applications like asset management, remotely managed access control (RMAC), and smart grid solutions. Notably, the module supports Dynamic Firmware Over-The-Air (DFOTA) functionality, enabling seamless automatic firmware updates, alongside Wi-Fi scan positioning technology.

In addition to its remarkable individual capabilities, the Quectel EG800Q-NA is part of a dynamic series of products that cater to multiple regions. The EG800Q series encompasses a range of modules, each tailored to meet the unique connectivity needs of various global markets.

In order to streamline customer designs, Quectel also offers an array of high-performance antennas that significantly amplify wireless connectivity. This empowers IoT developers to seamlessly bundle the EG800Q-NA module with Quectel antennas and leverage their pre-certification services, ultimately curtailing costs and expediting the time-to-market for their Cat 1 devices.

• WE310K6 module features the Realtek RTL8852BE chipset, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Energy 5.2 for low power and high performance
• IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth SIG and Wi-Fi Alliance certifications eliminate the time and expense of developing and launching connected devices for consumer, medical, industrial and smart city applications

Telit Cinterion, a global enabler of the intelligent edge, today announced the WE310K6, a fully integrated, low-power module featuring dual-band, dual-stream Wi-Fi and dual-mode Bluetooth/ Bluetooth Low Energy.

The WE310K6 enables device OEMs to add high-speed wireless connectivity quickly and cost-effectively to their products — even when they have limited Bluetooth and Wi-Fi expertise.

The WE310K6 supports 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, classic Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Energy 5.2, giving OEMs the flexibility to design products that can connect to other local devices or to the internet over Wi-Fi. The module is ideal for a wide variety of consumer and business applications, including:

• Smart home: home automation, appliances, home security and alarms, smart lighting, and IP cameras and speakers
• Health care and medical: remote patient monitoring, medical wearables, and health care and wellness devices
• Industrial and commercial: energy management, robotics, and industrial and building automation
• Other applications: aftermarket OEM telematics, fleet management, smart cities and parking, printers, asset management, pet and animal trackers, and more

The Realtek RTL8822BE-CG is a highly integrated single-chip that supports 2-stream 802.11ac solutions with Multi-user MIMO (Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output) and Wireless LAN (WLAN) PCI Express network interface controller and integrated Bluetooth 2.1/3.0/4.2 USB interface controller. It combines a WLAN MAC, a 2T2R capable WLAN baseband, and RF in a single chip. The RTL8822BE-CG provides a complete solution for a high-performance integrated wireless and Bluetooth device.

The WE310K6 also has IEEE 802.11 and Bluetooth SIG certifications and complies with Wi-Fi Alliance and Bluetooth SIG-v5.2 requirements. OEMs can get new products to market faster by reducing RF design time and removing the burden of testing and certification. The module’s other key features and benefits include:

• Two form factor options: LGA package or on top of an M.2 Key E carrier board
• Host-activated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios
• Dual-stream spatial multiplexing up to 1201 Mbps
• MU-MIMO technology
• Bluetooth Low Energy AUDIO Isochronous Channel (CIS) support
• Compatible with Wi-Fi 802.11 e, h, k and i
• Advanced security (including WPA3) with integrated crypto hardware
• Industrial-grade temperature range (-40 °C to +85 °C) to ensure reliability even in demanding environments

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Telit Cinterion and offer our latest generation Wi-Fi 6 solutions,” said Yee-Wei Huang, Realtek’s Vice President and Spokesman. “The collaboration yields a feature-rich platform with the latest cutting-edge technologies.”

“Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth Low Energy are rapidly becoming must-have features for consumer, enterprise, medical and industrial devices, but OEMs often face challenges in adding those technologies to their products,” said Marco Argenton, VP of Product Management for IoT Modules, Telit Cinterion.

“Our new WE310K6 enables them to add low-power quickly and cost-effectively, high-performance connectivity even when they have only limited RF design expertise. That means faster time to market and time to revenue and gives their customers peace of mind that the devices will work flawlessly from day one.”

EVT samples of the WE310K6 are currently available, with DVT samples by late October. Mass production begins in December 2023.