Jul 6 2016
Semtech Corporation, a leading supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, today announced that its LoRa® wireless RF solution will be featured in the second global Internet of Things (IoT) challenge presented by the LoRa Alliance™. The challenge is focused on creating a safer, smarter and more sustainable world and, in partnership with the Red Cross in Kenya, will accept solutions from four categories: food, water, health and safety.
Semtech Technology Featured in Contest for Building a Safer, Smarter, More Sustainable World
Through November 1, companies can submit LoRaWAN™ solutions from one of the four acceptable categories. Submissions should include a description of the solution, including its benefits, how it is implemented and used, as well as a prototype. Finalists will receive travel and accommodations to Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on February 27-March 2, 2017 where the winner will be announced.
"Technology can play a critical role in improving the lives of the most marginalized communities in the developing world," said Safia Verjee, program manager in Disaster Risk Management at the Kenya Red Cross. "LoRaWAN helps meet the price points and requirements to scale solutions easily."
The LoRaWAN specification is based on Semtech’s LoRa two-way wireless solution and is standardized by the LoRa Alliance. Its purpose is to ensure interoperability of IoT solutions and networks, low power, wide area connectivity, scalability and more. Currently, the LoRa Alliance has over 300 members committed to using and standardizing the LoRaWAN specification worldwide.
“After an overwhelming turnout for the Alliance’s first global IoT challenge, we’re excited to host a second challenge, this time with a different set of categories,” said Jaap Groot, Vice President of Systems Business Development for Semtech’s Wireless and Sensing Product Group and LoRa Alliance Marketing Committee Member. “In addition to the commonly thought of smart home, smart appliance and other high-end consumer applications for IoT technologies, there is immense potential for LoRa and IoT to help improve the lives of communities in the developing world. The opportunity to pivot our resources and expertise toward helping underserved communities through this collaboration with the Red Cross in Kenya is a great step.”
In the last LoRa Alliance Global IoT Challenge, which received submissions from over 200 companies around the world, finalists presented innovative LoRa-based solutions that included a connected home application, a shipping pallet tracker and a bed bug monitor for hotels.
Key Features of LoRa:
- Long Range: A single LoRa base station enables deep penetration capability for dense urban environments and indoor coverage, while also providing the ability to connect to sensors more than 15-30 miles away in rural areas.
- Low Cost: LoRa reduces both upfront infrastructure investments and operating costs, as well as end-node sensor costs.
- Standardized: LoRaWAN ensures interoperability among applications, IoT solution providers and telecom operators to speed adoption and deployment.
- Low Power: The LoRaWAN protocol was developed specifically for low power and enables unprecedented multi-year battery lifetime.
- Secure: embedded end to end encryption of data ensuring optimal privacy and protection against unauthorized access.