Investments in Low Power WAN Technologies will Accelerate Enterprise Internet of Things in NZ
AUCKLAND, February 13th, 2018 – IDC New Zealand has released a market report discussing the LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) market dynamics. The
report, titled "The Battleground for LPWAN in New Zealand", discusses the industry and market dynamics of seven nationwide LPWAN networks vendors are deploying.
A Low Power WAN connects devices or sensors wirelessly, using very little power, compared to WiFi or cellular networks,
for example. This means a device (for example a smart water meter) can operate on a battery and that battery may last
ten years before it needs to be changed. Low power devices can help businesses solve problems in places where mains
power and wired connectivity aren't readily available.
"New Zealand organisations will be spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting low power wireless connectivity for
their Internet of Things solutions," says Monica Collier, Research Manager for Telecommunications, IDC New Zealand. "The telcos and the Internet of Things companies are
providing a range of connectivity options that will suit different use cases and budgets."
Collier says that the downside of being spoilt for choice, is that this creates a "criteria conundrum" for end user
organisations. "Each type of LPWAN in New Zealand has different specifications, strengths and capabilities. Using IDC's
Worldwide Internet of Things Taxonomy, we've mapped all the use cases that LPWAN technologies are most suited to. This
helps organisations have a clearer idea of the connectivity they should seek." After that, connectivity decisions come
down to the commercial models that vendors decide to utilise. "Not every deployment will suit a monthly connection
charge. Pricing models may need some innovation to ensure the right value equation for customers," Collier notes that it
is too early to know how the telcos will price their services.
Overall, the investment vendors are making should help accelerate IoT growth in New Zealand, by providing both customers
and the provider ecosystem with further certainty in the market. "We've already got two nationwide networks, through
KotahiNet and Thinxtra," says Collier, "Now, both Spark and Vodafone are deploying two LPWA networks each, and Chorus is
trying out LPWAN in Auckland." The LPWAN market is about to get competitive, generally a good sign for customers.
-Ends-