The Sustainability Expo Europe, hosts 500+ sustainability professionals for a two day in person event at the RAI Amsterdam, 1st – 2nd October 2024! (more…)
September 26, 2024
Posted by: Magda Dabrowska
Africa Tech Festival, the platform for technology innovators, specialists and thought leaders, has announced that registration for the 2024 edition of its anticipated are open. (more…)
August 21, 2024
Posted by: Magda Dabrowska
CNLABS, in collaboration with the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), has announced a conformance certification framework that is fundamental to securing IoT systems.
The Manufacturers Usage Description Conformance Certification Framework (MUD-CCF), based on IETF RFC 8520, includes a comprehensive test specification and an automated test solution to verify MUD compliance with IoT devices. Enterprises, service providers, and Industrial IoT operators can use MUD-CCF as an essential prerequisite for deploying secure IoT networks.
CNLABS is an independent, vendor-neutral test lab offering industry certifications, regulatory compliance testing, interoperability and third-party certification testing for product vendors, enterprises, and service providers in various domains, including cybersecurity, IPv6 and network virtualization. CNLABS is accredited by NABL (ILAC) and meets the globally recognised ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard that assures quality and competency of the lab, personnel, and test results.
MUD has been recognised by several forums as a practical standard to reduce the vulnerability of IoT devices to network-based attacks. The National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) from NIST has included it in their guideline NIST SP.1800-15 for securing small businesses. A framework like MUD-CCF provides a lightweight and easily adaptable certification path for IoT device manufacturers, providing the foundation for developing secure IoT (Internet of Things) and IIoT (industrial Internet of Things) solutions.
“Since last year, our partnership with CNLABS to develop secure and reliable connected networks has gained momentum,” Julien Epps, dean of engineering at UNSW Sydney, observed in a media statement. “It’s encouraging to see our efforts leading advancements in IoT cybersecurity through MUD-CCF. We are excited about the future prospects of this collaboration and the positive impact it will continue to have on the industry and our society.”
“CNLABS is proud to announce a robust certification framework with UNSW for securing IoT networks. We are building on this foundational work by developing AI-based adaptive network pods that will significantly enhance security in evolving threat environments,” said Jayaprakash Kumar, CEO of CNLABS.
Technical test requirements based on MUD-CCF have been recommended to ITU-T for standardisation. CNLABS is also working with national standardisation agencies to promote the adoption of MUD-CCF. Researchers led by Dr Hassan Habibi Gharakheili at UNSW School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications have developed a research paper on MUD-CCF (currently under review by IEEE). CNLABS has published a whitepaper on MUD-CCF for industry reference.
Comment on this article below or via X: @IoTGN and visit our website IoT Global Network
August 12, 2024
Posted by: Anna Ribeiro
Iteris announced its selection by the City of Lakeland, Florida to provide smart mobility infrastructure management technologies to support the city’s Intersection Crash Avoidance Safety Program (iCASP). The initiative will help improve safety at high-impact intersections.
“We’re thrilled to be supporting FDOT and the City of Lakeland in their Intersection Collision Avoidance Safety Program,” Kevin Exner, regional vice president at Iteris, said in a Wednesday media statement. “This is not only an excellent chance to carry on with our extensive work in the Florida market, but it also combines two of our greatest passions at Iteris: the advancement of ITS infrastructure and the enhancement of road user safety.
The project includes the deployment of Vantage Next, Iteris’ next-generation video detection system and VantageLive!, an easy-to-use, web-based data service that allows users to view activity at their intersections by automatically collecting and analysing vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian data, removing the need for manual, costly data collection efforts. These technologies will enable FDOT and the City of Lakeland to proactively prioritise easy-to-implement red light running countermeasures with the Red Protect safety feature.
Lakeland will also utilise BlueTOAD roadside units at select intersections. BlueTOAD combines real-time and historical Bluetooth detection with vehicle-to-everything (V2X) interconnectivity to enable various connected vehicle applications as well as to provide synchronisation with transportation agency travel-time and performance measures-based systems.
Vantage Next, VantageLive! and BlueTOAD are key components of Iteris’ ClearMobility Platform, the world’s most complete solution to monitor, visualise and optimise mobility infrastructure continuously. The platform applies cloud computing, artificial intelligence, advanced sensors, advisory services and managed services to help ensure roads are safe, travel is efficient and communities thrive.
The City of Lakeland initiated this project due to a high number of crashes attributed to red lights running in certain high-impact intersections throughout the city. The deployment of Iteris’ advanced technologies at 19 of these intersections is expected to increase safety for Lakeland’s travelling public.
In March, Iteris announced that it had been awarded a contract by the Virginia Department of Transportation to implement a statewide smart mobility initiative.
August 8, 2024
Posted by: Anna Ribeiro
ENGIE Vianeo, the EV charging business of energy company ENGIE Group, announced on Tuesday a partnership with international communications enabler BICS to connect its charging stations to the Internet of Things (IoT). The solution will provide real-time data which allows for remote maintenance and enhanced decision-making. Partnering with BICS will deliver seamless connectivity, security and regulatory compliance to support ENGIE’s rapid European rollout plans.
As the EU aims to enhance the availability of EV stations, ENGIE Vianeo is upgrading its charger fleet by integrating real-time data for better analytics and more effective troubleshooting. Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular across Europe – new electric car registrations reached nearly 3.2 million in 2023, increasing by almost 20% from 2022. However, this is driving demand for more accessible charging infrastructure.
Last year, the EU approved a new law to add more chargers across its member states, with specific targets for 2025 and 2030. This legislation put specific emphasis on installing stations across main highways. In response to this demand, ENGIE launched its charging business, ENGIE Vianeo, last year.
By utilising BICS’ IoT connectivity portal ‘SIM for Things’, ENGIE is upgrading its EV charging estate into a network of IoT devices to improve efficiency, reliability, and user convenience. The solution supports remote maintenance and troubleshooting, analytics on station activity, and enables remote software and firmware updates. These are determining rating criteria recognized by the users. Previous iterations of the technology have used a ‘black box’ fitted to the stations, these would collect data but have to be physically collected and processed, while this new solution means real-time, remote data collection from the highway to ENGIE Vianeo’s European supervisory centre.
The real-time data provided by the solution will also improve customer experience, described by ENGIE Vianeo as a ‘key element of the transition to a lower-emission mobility model.’ Users will be able to see live information, via their phone app, on nearby charger availability or the charging status of their vehicle. Answering such a need to guarantee the best charging experience leads to a significant increase in attendance.
“The appetite for electric cars is growing across Western Europe,” Clémence Fischer, managing director at ENGIE Vianeo, said in a media statement. “We aim to meet this demand by rapidly expanding our number of charging stations. In France alone, we aim to have 12,000 charge points by the end of 2025. In Belgium, we expect to double the current number of charging stations to exceed 5,000 charge points by the same date.”
Fischer added “Managing such a large, dispersed estate presents challenges, so alongside BICS, we’re investing in technology to give us complete visibility over our infrastructure. This will help us improve the prompt response of our services and keep stations maintained and running reliably, so they’re always ready and available when customers need them.”
Due to the typical locations of charging stations, in built-up metropolitan areas or remote highways, mobile connectivity (as opposed to fixed fibre) is a must. BICS is making this simple for ENGIE Vianeo, providing the internet connection, the SIM cards to connect the charging stations, and its SIM for Things platform for easy setup and maintenance. While the initial rollout for these ‘connected chargers’ will focus on Belgium, they will later expand across Western Europe, including France, Italy and Spain. Around 50,000 devices are expected to be deployed as part of the collaboration.
“IoT technology augments businesses by enabling real-time visibility across their operations, from the management of moving parts within factories to devices distributed across the globe,” says Mikael Schachne, CRO Enterprise at BICS. “Enabling EV vehicles to access charging stations anywhere is essential as we look to achieve a more efficient and carbon-neutral mobility infrastructure. We are very pleased to partner with ENGIE Vianeo to accelerate their rollout, reducing the complexity with ‘plug-and-play’ SIM connectivity to rapidly and easily connect smart chargers across Europe.”
July 10, 2024
Posted by: Anna Ribeiro
KORE Group Holdings, an Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and pioneering IoT hyperscaler, announced on Monday that Bruce Gordon has joined as executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO), effective July 2, 2024. Gordon brings over three decades of technology sector experience, having held multiple significant leadership roles.
Most recently, Gordon served as chief executive officer and executive chairman of GeoDigital, a provider of 3D services and geospatial intelligence software. Previously, at ABB Ventyx (formerly Mincom), Gordon served as senior vice president for business solutions. Prior to this, Gordon held roles of chief technology officer at Infor, an enterprise software company, overseeing technology strategy through a significant period of growth which included the acquisition and integration of 27 companies, and chief operating officer at Descartes where he was responsible for a significant business transformation.
“I am thrilled to join KORE and lead our operational strategies during this exciting period of expected growth,” Gordon said in a media statement. “With a focus on innovation and customer-centred solutions, I look forward to working with the talented team at KORE to drive operational excellence and deliver unparalleled value to our customers.”
In his new role as executive vice president and COO of KORE, Gordon will focus on enhancing operational efficiencies, fostering innovation and driving sustainable growth. His leadership will help optimise KORE’s internal processes, leverage human talent and maximise market opportunities to solidify the company’s position as a leader in IoT.
“We are delighted to welcome Bruce to the KORE executive team,” said Ron Totton, interim president and CEO of KORE. “Bruce’s extensive experience and proven track record in transforming organisations and driving growth will be invaluable as we continue to innovate and expand our offerings to meet the evolving needs of our customers.”
In connection with his employment, the company made a grant to Gordon of an aggregate of 100,000 restricted stock units (RSUs), where each RSU represents the right to receive one share of the company’s common stock upon the terms and conditions of the related RSU award agreements. The grant of RSUs was offered as a material inducement to Gordon’s hiring.
The RSUs were granted by the Compensation Committee of KORE’s Board of Directors, in reliance on the employment inducement exemption under the NYSE’s Listed Company Manual Rule 303A.08, which requires public announcement of inducement awards.
The RSUs were granted outside the KORE Group Holdings, Inc. 2021 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan, but will be governed by the terms of the Plan as if they were issued under the Plan.
Subject to the terms and conditions of the award agreements, 10,000 RSUs shall vest on the first anniversary of the grant date, 27,500 RSUs shall vest on the second anniversary of the grant date, 27,500 RSUs shall vest on the third anniversary of the grant date, and 35,000 RSUs shall vest on the fourth anniversary of the grant date, subject to Gordon’s continuous employment or service to the company through the applicable vesting date.
July 9, 2024
Posted by: Anna Ribeiro
Automotive antennas company Harada Industry has teamed with UnaBiz, a massive Internet of Things (IoT) service provider and integrator, to design and manufacture Sigfox 0G technology-based vehicle tracking solution and in-vehicle antenna for the automotive industry.
The collaboration between Harada and UnaBiz involves joint efforts from R&D teams to create a ‘Film-type Vehicle Smart Tracker,’ empowered by Sigfox 0G technology, that can be attached to the windshield of automobiles.
The transparent film tracker will not obstruct the driver’s view, and its placement at the top of the windshield improves the radio wave environment, enhancing Sigfox 0G network reception. This retrofit tracker will be followed by fully integrated Sigfox-based solutions that automotive manufacturers can embed directly during vehicle assembly. Combined with Harada’s advanced antennas, the integrated solution will open a broad range of use cases for the industry.
Micware, a tier 1 in-vehicle platform software provider for automotive control and car navigation systems, and an existing partner of Harada will also be working with UnaBiz to develop the tracking and telemetry software platform.
Harada is located in 13 cities across 9 countries, supporting Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and the Central America markets. At the same time, UnaBiz has networks deployed in over 70 countries worldwide through its global 0G operators empowered by Sigfox 0G technology.
Keigo Harada, executive officer of Harada expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, “It is a pleasure working with the UnaBiz team to combine our expertise in radio communication technologies to advance the automotive sector. Sigfox 0G and its global footprint are powerful, yet simple and elegant LPWAN technology that are straightforward to integrate into our portfolio of vehicle products and antennas. We are committed to leading the way, driving technological innovations that provide the best products and services for our customers.”
“We are excited to work with Harada, a world-class supplier for global automakers as we see more and more Sigfox 0G technology engagements and applications in the automotive sector,” Alexis Susset, CTO of UnaBiz said. “Our automobile OEM customers in Europe and Japan are leveraging Sigfox for asset tracking, stolen vehicle recovery, and telematics. Harada’s antenna knowledge is unique and a key enabler for us to expand globally and deploy solutions tailored to the automotive sector. We couldn’t be more excited to launch such a key collaboration in an industry we look forward to supporting in its digital transformation.”
“Micware is thrilled to collaborate with Harada and UnaBiz, both leading experts in their fields, to revolutionise the future of vehicle tracking and telematics,” Takuma Segawa, executive director of Micware added. “We will contribute our deep knowledge of software and other digital tools to build industry-leading solutions and products to build modern and inspiring experiences for end-users.”
Harada and UnaBiz are set to explore various commercial strategies for the newly developed automotive products, with plans to introduce them to the market by the second half of 2024.
July 8, 2024
Posted by: Anna Ribeiro
Aqara unveiled on Thursday the Roller Shade Controller T1S, a tubular motor supporting Matter compatibility over bridge for superior interoperability across smart home platforms and devices. A solution that blends into any interior, this motor offers homeowners enhanced convenience, energy efficiency and privacy. By automating shades, it eliminates the need for manual adjustments, providing holistic smart home experience.
Whether through remote control, preset schedules, mobile apps, voice assistants, or complete home automation, the Roller Shade Controller T1S makes it a breeze to adjust multiple shades simultaneously, including those in hard-to-reach windows. It features a myriad of automation and controls that intuitively respond to users’ needs, allowing for the creation of ambience, adjustment to lighting throughout the day, temperature regulation in concert with other smart devices, and enhanced privacy from the outside world.
Compatible with various window coverings such as roller shades, zebra roller blinds, Shangri-la blinds, and honeycomb blinds, this Zigbee-based roller shade motor offers maximum flexibility and seamless integration with Matter-compatible platforms via an Aqara Matter bridge.
The T1S connects with Aqara Home and third-party platforms including Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Home Assistant, Homey, and SmartThings, offering homeowners greater choices in creating personalised smart home scenes and automation.
Featuring advanced DC motor technology, the Roller Shade Controller T1S operates at a high speed of 25 rpm while maintaining a low noise level of under 27 dB, ensuring a peaceful atmosphere conducive to relaxation, focus, and productivity. The Aqara Home app supports even quieter operation of the motor by allowing it to open or close slowly and gradually over a preset time period, such as 30 minutes.
Last week, Aqara released Smart Lock U50, its latest addition to the smart lock product line. Aiming to bring convenience and added security, the entry-level solution comes equipped with advanced features like Apple home key unlocking and Matter compatibility over a bridge. The launch transforms traditional key access into a keyless, integrated experience for more households.
The Smart Lock U50 offers multiple secure entry options including Apple home keys, which allow for effortless unlocking with a simple tap of an iPhone or Apple Watch. Homeowners can also manage and share home access with one-time and recurring passwords, as well as NFC cards. Physical keys are provided for added peace of mind, and the lock includes a USB-C port for emergency charging, ensuring access is never lost even if batteries are depleted.
May 31, 2024
Posted by: Anna Ribeiro
Afero announced that it has signed the Secure by Design pledge from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), making it the first secure IoT platform company to do so. The move highlights the company’s dedication to delivering enterprise-grade security for IoT endpoints, including devices that may lack sufficient memory and processing power to support traditional operating systems.
The IoT Platform as a Service by Afero focuses on security, data privacy, simplicity, and user-friendliness throughout the end-to-end experience. These core principles are seamlessly integrated into the solution, empowering manufacturers and brands to safeguard their supply chain.
Afero’s technology is utilised in millions of devices spanning 150 product categories from over 50 manufacturers, including brands like Defiant, Hampton Bay, and EcoSmart.
“Our mission at Afero has always been to enable connected devices to be smart and secure,” said Joe Britt, CEO and co-founder of Afero. “By signing the CISA Secure by Design pledge, we are reinforcing our commitment to leading the IoT industry with robust security measures that extend all the way to the endpoint, even the most constrained devices. This pledge aligns perfectly with our core values and ongoing efforts to safeguard the IoT supply chain.”
The CISA Secure by Design pledge is a voluntary commitment to improve the security of enterprise software products and services, including on-premises software, cloud services, and software as a service (SaaS). While the pledge does not currently include physical products such as IoT devices and consumer products, Afero has been committed since its founding to extending this same secure-by-design philosophy down to physical products such as high-volume consumer devices.
“The surging demand for connected devices will make IoT security more critical than ever,” said Bret Jordan, the company’s chief security strategist. “Afero is at the forefront of securing this hyperconnected edge, ensuring every device, no matter how small, remains secure. As the first IoT platform player to sign the CISA pledge, we’re demonstrating Afero’s unwavering dedication to this cause.”
May 30, 2024
Posted by: Anna Ribeiro
Semtech and Console Connect jointly announced their collaboration which will expand Semtech’s connectivity coverage across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region for its AirVantage Smart Connectivity service.
Semtech is leveraging Console Connect’s IMSI service and extensive partner roaming network to extend the reach of its AirVantage Smart Connectivity service to more markets and locations across the APAC region.
AirVantage Smart Connectivity service provides customers with a network of global cellular service providers, enabling flexibility by seamlessly switching to the next available network for constant and resilient global connectivity. The multi-profile, multi-network service offers global coverage for deployments of both fixed and mobile applications, overcoming regulatory and roaming restrictions.
Console Connect provides automated IoT connectivity coverage and direct access to the cloud in over 180 countries worldwide, with extensive reach and competitive pricing throughout the APAC region, enabling Semtech customers to experience seamless and affordable roaming.
“This collaboration not only expands our presence in APAC with access to the full range of LTE technologies, but also extends global access to the best networks in terms of speed and coverage for our Smart Connectivity offering and its growing customer base,” says Rupa Datta, senior director of product management, managed connectivity at Semtech.
“We are excited to be Semtech’s connectivity partner of choice for the APAC region, where our features and network offer comprehensive reach and reliability,” according to Yogesh Lulla, vice president for mobility services at Console Connect. “With IoT deployments accelerating across the region, this collaboration facilitates businesses to keep devices always connected.”
AirVantage Smart Connectivity offers resilient coverage, maximises uptime and provides seamless expansion into new markets with access to over 600 partner networks in over 190 countries and territories via one global SIM. The service seamlessly switches to available networks to enable critical assets to stay connected.
With multi-network connectivity, the service delivers maximum coverage and performance with ultimate versatility for customers needing ‘always-on’ connectivity by finding the best data-capable connection for continuous operation.
Leveraging the latest network automation technology, Console Connect IoT enables businesses to orchestrate and manage their connectivity using Console Connect’s fast, secure and private high-performance global network.
May 3, 2024
Posted by: Anna Ribeiro