Netherlands Gets Nationwide LoRa Network for IoT

The Dutch telecom group KPN announced that their LoRa (Long Range) network is now available throughout the Netherlands. This makes the Netherlands the first country in the world to have a nationwide LoRa network for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Over the past eight months a lot of hard work has gone into rolling out this network, to ensure coverage is available outdoors throughout the Netherlands. Because of substantial customer interest the rollout of the network was accelerated at the beginning of the year. This LoRa network is complementary to their networks that exist for the 2G, 3G and 4G phones. This LoRa network went live at the beginning of November 2015 in Rotterdam and The Hague.

Connecting everyday objects to networks, allowing them to send and receive data, is widely seen as the next major evolution of the Internet and one that may transform how many businesses operate and people live. The rollout of a low data rate (LoRa) mobile communications network is critical to connect objects as many may not be able to link up with home or work Wi-Fi networks to gain Internet access.

The existence of this easily accessible network makes it simple to develop smart applications and to optimize processes and services. They have already contracted 1.5 million ‘devices’ that will be connected to the network. This number is expected to grow rapidly now that the network is available in the whole of the Netherlands. In the months ahead they will further optimize the LoRa network by condensing it; the much-requested localization functionality will become available too.

The first Internet of Things applications are already connected to the network and numerous proofs of concept are being tested. For example, at Schiphol Airport LoRa is being tested in logistical processes such as baggage handling and for facility services. An experiment is being carried out at Utrecht Central station that allows LoRa to monitor rail switches, and depth sounders at the port of Rotterdam have been fitted with devices to connect them to the IoT network. KPN expects LoRa applications for consumers to become more widely available in the course of this year.