Global IoT challenge focuses on food, water, health & safety

Through 1st November 2016, companies can submit LoRaWAN solutions from one of the four acceptable categories. Submissions should include a description of the solution, including its benefits, how it is implemented and used, as well as a prototype. Finalists will receive travel and accommodations to Mobile World Congress (27th February to 2nd March, 2017, in Barcelona) where the winner will be announced.

Safia Verjee, Programme Manager, Disaster Risk Management, Kenya Red Cross, commented: "Technology can play a critical role in improving the lives of the most marginalised communities in the developing world. LoRaWAN helps meet the price points and requirements to scale solutions easily."

The LoRaWAN specification is based on Semtech’s LoRa two-way wireless solution and is standardised by the LoRa Alliance. Its purpose is to ensure interoperability of IoT solutions and networks, low power, wide area connectivity, scalability and more. Currently, the LoRa Alliance has over 300 members committed to using and standardising the LoRaWAN specification worldwide.

“After an overwhelming turnout for the Alliance’s first global IoT challenge, we’re excited to host a second challenge, this time with a different set of categories. In addition to the commonly thought of smart home, smart appliance and other high-end consumer applications for IoT technologies, there is immense potential for LoRa and IoT to help improve the lives of communities in the developing world. The opportunity to pivot our resources and expertise toward helping underserved communities through this collaboration with the Red Cross in Kenya is a great step,” added Jaap Groot, Vice President, Systems Business Development, Wireless and Sensing Product Group, Semtech, and LoRa Alliance Marketing Committee Member.

In the last LoRa Alliance Global IoT Challenge, which received submissions from over 200 companies around the world, finalists presented innovative LoRa-based solutions that included a connected home application, a shipping pallet tracker and a bed bug monitor for hotels.

Find out more about the Global IoT Challenge.