A long-range Internet of Things (IoT) Wi-Fi network known as LongFi is being rolled out throughout Africa with the linking of connected hotspots to provide up to 15 km coverage that will enable the connection of machines and devices to the Internet.
Similar in appearance to a traditional Wi-Fi router, the SenseCAP M1 is placed in the office or home and acts as a hotspot that is designed to provide widespread coverage for all to use. As an incentive to install the devices, the Helium network provides Helium Network Tokens (HNT) that can be saved and used to buy more devices or simply be cashed out.
Once operational, the hotspots will provide free-to-air connectivity for household or industrial devices to be monitored and controlled over the Internet via the IoT. The current coverage map is growing daily and can be viewed at https://explorer.helium.com/hotspots
Managing director of Euca Technologies, the distributor of SenseCAP M1 devices in Africa, Europe and the Middle East, Ernest Campling, says in a business environment such devices are typically used in pharmaceutical, facilities management, equipment, agricultural, food, tracking and other industries that require on-the-minute monitoring and control of devices such as controlling equipment, air quality, irrigation, cold storage, building management, vehicles monitoring and more.
The long-range capability of LongFi (which is essentially a LoRa-based wide area network, or WAN, with a payment protocol added on) also enables household automation of equipment such as gate motors, access control, alarm systems, climate control, lights, curtains and even ovens, washing machines and other appliances to be controlled via a computer or cellphone. In time, Campling believes the LongFi IoT network will become pervasive and won’t require access to the standard Wi-Fi and computer networks which can easily be hacked.
The SenseCAP routers are fully guaranteed and can be installed in an office or house in minutes almost anywhere to begin collecting HNT tokens and rollout LongFi connectivity to all areas of South Africa and abroad. Zoomable world coverage maps show how Asia, Europe, USA and other developed countries especially have quickly adopted the technology and covered entire regions with LongFi.
For more information contact Peter van Zyl, Euca Technologies,
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