ISP Connexin to Extend UK Long Range Wide Area Network

Wireless broadband ISP Connexin, which recently raised an investment of £80m, has announced that they plan to extend their Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) connectivity across the United Kingdom to support the development of national smart networks and Internet of Things (IoT) devices (e.g. small environment sensors).

Wireless LoRa networks typically harness only a small slice of lower frequency radio spectrum (usually in one of the sub-1GHz bands like 868MHz or 915MHz) in order to support a relatively slow but extremely low power data connection. Such networks tend to run at speeds of between just 0.3Kbps to 50Kbps (0.0003Mbps to 0.05Mbps for those more familiar with Megabits per second), but some variants can also go to 1-2Mbps or faster.

Suffice to say that, while inadequate for modern internet surfing, this is still more than enough if all you’re trying to do is keep a bunch of tiny – often battery powered – IoT devices connected (often for years on end). On top of that such networks can achieve a coverage of 10km+ or more.

Connexin has been using LoRa networks for a while now, but they now intend to “roll out the network nationwide.”

Furqan Alamgir, Founder & CEO of Connexin, said:

“With a low cost wide-area networking solution becoming available to all organisations across the UK, it opens up opportunities for those looking to deploy IoT solutions for a fraction of the cost of existing cellular infrastructure solutions.

Not only does this promote the development of new IoT-based technology but it allows existing solutions to be rolled-out nationwide to encourage further adoption and will allow more people to utilise and benefit from affordable, carrier-grade IoT connectivity.”

We should point out that Connexin currently has regional LoRaWAN networks in place in East and South Yorkshire following deployments in Sheffield with Amey and Yorkshire Water, Hull with Hull City Council and the South Coast with Icosa Water. The expansion of their “national IoT network to cover other areas of the UK” is now underway.