French telecom network operator Orange has launched an IoT network as part of its Essentials2020 strategy.
The Low Power Wide Are (LPWA) network is scheduled to go live in Q1 2016, with Orange choosing to rely on LoRa (Long Range) technology to deploy the network that will cover the whole of metropolitan France.
The company added that LPWA is a narrow-band technology, which guarantees connectivity at a reduced energy consumption rate and at a lower cost.
The IoT network has been designed for different applications, with the operator highlighting its usage for connecting sensors in smart cities.
Commenting on the new IoT network, Orange’s CEO Stéphane Richard said: "As a part of our new strategic plan Essentials2020, Orange has an ambition to become the number one operator for the IoT.
"To answer all the needs, we decided, as a supplement to the cellular networks, to deploy a national network dedicated to objects that need narrow-band connectivity, and also to low energy consumption."
Orange is also continuing the work on the standardisation of future cell networks (2G/4G)[2] for the IoT, which will be operational in 2017 and for 5G by 2022.
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Kaveh Ranjbar, CIO at the European IP Networks (RIPE NCC), told CBR: "The biggest addressing challenge for cellular networks is one of capacity, specifically with IP addresses.
"The ‘Internet of Things’ means many more devices will be connecting to the network, and with IPv4 already exhausted in Europe, it will make life very difficult if IPv6 is not deployed quickly."
