Smart City and Utility Industry News Roundup
February 28, 2024

The Brazilian city of Londrina has partnered with Lactec to implement a remote management system for its 65,000 streetlights, with the goal of saving energy. 4,500 remote management modules and 220 data concentrators are to be installed, numbers that could go up in the future. The 1.6 million US dollar project should also enable the integration of 5G devices such as cameras, Wi-Fi, and traffic flow control sensors on the streetlight poles.

BT Group has introduced a new NB-IoT network, which they claim will cover 97% of what they call outdoor population, not geography. Designed to enhance smart city efforts and industries such as utilities and agriculture, the network aims to facilitate IoT device connectivity for monitoring from water to livestock. Complementing BT’s IoT portfolio, this multi-million-pound NB-IoT network is part of a suite that includes eSIMs and national roaming SIMs, aiming to improve connectivity across various sectors.

Connected, a Portuguese space tech startup, has secured €2M in Pre-Seed funding to develop NB-IoT connectivity from space. The company is addressing the global challenge of expanding connectivity to off-grid areas. Connected aims to provide affordable, universal NB-IoT connectivity for a range of applications, from emergency support in remote areas to precision agriculture and defense. The funding, co-led by FundBox, Shilling VC, and Iberis Capital, should help accelerate the development of Connected’s technology, with plans for space tests by the end of 2024.

GreenCityzen, a Marseille-based IoT company specialized in water network management through data, has been acquired by the Aix-en-Provence urban cleanliness SME, Simpliciti. Together, they plan to expand their market reach and address water, waste, and mobility issues. Greencityzen is focusing on developing its technology, including SIM connectivity and advanced data analytics, to offer comprehensive solutions for sewer network diagnostics.