Tata Comm debuts ultra-low power connectivity solution for the Internet of Things in India

Tata Communications announces that it has successfully conducted trials of new Low Power Wide Area Network<1> (LPWAN), based on LoRa technology for connected devices and cutting edge Internet of Things (IoT) applications across Mumbai and Delhi. These trials will bolster successful deployment of IoT applications in India, as Gartner forecasts that there will be 4.9 billion connected things globally in 2015, reaching 25 billion by 2020<2> - more than three times the number of people on earth today.

Tata Communications plans to roll out India’s first LoRa network across the country, with full coverage starting in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. LoRa is a wireless communication technology dedicated to the Internet of Things (IoT) / Machine to Machine (M2M) communications network. The new network is a super low-power, secure, bi-directional, communication solution, which any organisation can use to connect objects and innovative applications simply and energy efficiently, overcoming 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.

In addition to ultra-low power consumption, which allows the battery in the end device to last for more than a decade without replacement, Tata Communications’ LPWAN wireless network has unprecedented reach, enabling 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 15km range. Compared with 4G, WiFi, ZigBee or Bluetooth solutions, the LPWAN network is also more cost-effective for organisations to deploy.

Tri Pham, Chief Strategy Officer, Tata Communications, says, “Tata Communications is dedicated to enabling cutting-edge, innovative communication solutions for the digital economy. Given our global network leadership, we have a bird’s eye view on how connected applications are permeating all aspects of people’s lives. We see a massive need for a new smart network to enable intelligent solutions for a variety of M2M applications to facilitate a simpler and smarter way of life and at a lower cost of ownership. These trials are just the beginning; we intend to deploy this network across India and invite customers with IoT projects to work with us to test it, end-to-end.”

As technology evolves into an intrinsic part of our everyday life - from predictive waste management to precision farming and geo-fencing to smart electricity meters - the IoT industry is predicted to grow exponentially, and India is seen as a high-growth potential market. Industries, citizens and governments alike become key stakeholders. Tata Communications’ LPWAN network, based on LoRa technology, is simple for organisations to deploy, as it is pre-configured with plug-and play connectivity for different industries, including manufacturing and agriculture.

“We are excited that Tata Communications has decided to deploy a LoRaWAN carrier-grade LPWAN solution across India,” said Mohan Maheswaran, CEO of Semtech, the technology partner. “Tata Communications is a global leader in network and communication solutions and we are pleased to be an integral part of this new initiative. It is also a matter of great pride that after extensive testing of all available LPWAN technologies, Tata Communications chose to deploy LoRa technology in its endeavour to create and enable a brand new network for connected devices.”

Tata Communications delivers world-class connectivity backed by the company’s leading global fibre network. Today, over 24% of the world’s Internet routes travel over Tata Communications’ network and the company is the only Tier-1 provider that is in the top five by routes in five continents.