BT Tower is world's highest Internet of Things base station

Dec 16, 2016 11:30 GMT

BT Tower

Low power long range radio device hosted in the building

BT Tower has become the highest building in the world to host an Internet of Things (IoT) base station, at a height of 180 metres. The iconic building now forms part of the expanding Things Connected network in London that was launched by Digital Catapult in September 2016.

BT has partnered with Digital Catapult and Everynet to help deliver the network and is supplying 25 of the 50 low power radio access base stations in London, known as LoRaWAN technology. Eighteen are currently in place and the rest will be installed this financial year. LoRaWAN allows internet enabled devices to use very low power resulting in long battery life and a long range, low cost solution ideal for delivering IoT applications.

Things Connected will be an open IoT testbed, free of charge for registered users across London. The network will be switched on in early 2017.

The Internet of Things is about everyday objects having network connectivity, allowing them to send and receive data which will inform people’s decisions as they conduct their everyday lives. Some practical examples might include providing information about a building’s energy efficiency, which route someone should take when travelling or how to find an empty parking space.

Small businesses, start-ups and the local community in central London have been asked to submit ideas on the Digital Catapult website about how they plan to use the Things Connected network. This will encourage them to investigate how the IoT can transform their business or daily lives.

Chris Sims, MD Strategy, Marketing and Mobile, BT Wholesale & Ventures, said:

“Installing the IoT base station at a record height on BT Tower will ensure the local area becomes a critical part of the Things Connected network. The network will be instrumental in bringing about London’s transformation as a truly smart city, advancing its position as one of the best places in the world to live, work and do business.”

Dr. Jeremy Silver, CEO, Digital Catapult, said:

“We’re delighted that the BT Tower will be one of the base stations for Things Connected, as we look to drive open innovation across the capital. Things Connected will allow us to drive IoT experimentation in areas such as traffic and transport services, energy management and environmental sensing. With the network to go live in early 2017, we are excited to create a blueprint for the use of LPWAN which can be used in cities across the UK to drive the adoption of IoT for businesses.”

Tracy Hopkins, GM EMEA, Everynet Ltd, said:

“It is very exciting to have such an iconic location as a deployment site for the Things Connected network. London is leading innovation in the UK for LPWA. This network will not only enable SME’s to design and test cool end devices and applications, it will also allow ‘IoT use cases’ to be deployed that validate real end user value and demonstrate effective business models.”

Digital Catapult plans to extend the network across the rest of London with low power wide area network (LPWAN) technologies. It also intends to create similar networks in other parts of the UK.

Businesses and innovators interested in finding out how they can test their IoT innovations with Things Connected once the full network goes live can do so by visiting https://www.digitalcatapultcentre.org.uk/open-calls/things-connected/