Liquid Telecom, Sigfox ink Kenya Internet of Things network deal

Liquid Telecom and France-based network provider Sigfox have signed a deal that will provide a nationwide Internet of Things (IoT) communications network of 300 new towers.

This will cover up to 85% of the Kenyan population and run separately from the existing telecommunication networks the first of its kind in East Africa enabling Kenyans to monitor water and electricity meters, track wildlife and environmental changes for agricultural use.

Sigfox will roll out 300 base towers by November 2019 representing 40% of Kenya’s landscape. The new base stations will be connected to Liquid Telecom’s fibre network.

“Our network will allow Kenyans to develop our own homemade solutions for the many unique socio-economic and business challenges we face,” said Ben Roberts, Group CTIO Liquid Telecom.

The IoT new network runs on the free ISM band 868MHZ and will cost Kenyans as little as Ksh 100 per year per device or sensor depending on usage.

However, with the new IoT network, the sensors will require no SIM card and last up to 15 years without recharging or changing the battery,” said Joel Muigai, head of IoT Strategy at Liquid Telecom

Sigfox operates in 45 countries.