IoT Squared is working with Washington-based Ossia to roll out wireless power technology in Saudi Arabia.

IoT Squared is a joint venture between Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and STC Group. It has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Ossia, a company specialising in wireless power technology development and licensing.

Ossia’s patented Cota technology will be the key enabler empowering long-range wireless power delivery without cables, batteries, line-of-sight or charging pads. IoT Squared and Ossia will work towards integrating real wireless power technologies in the kingdom to accelerate the digital transformation of companies in the country.

Through this partnership, Ossia’s expertise in wireless power transfer with the Cota technology will be combined with IoT Squared’s services that aim to empower companies to advance the use of IoT technologies in line with the Saudi Vision 2030. The MoU was signed by Othman Al Dahash, chief executive officer of IoT Squared, and Doug Stovall, CEO of Ossia.

“The adoption and integration of wireless power technologies in the kingdom are of vital importance not just for digitisation but also to build a sustainable future for all,” said Al Dahash. “We are proud to collaborate with Ossia, our strategic partner supporting the country’s path to the realisation of Vision 2030 objectives and together we will build an ecosystem of wireless power in the kingdom.”

Stovall added: “Ossia sees Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East as one of the fastest-growing innovators in the world right now. This is the first partnership to bring wireless power to the Saudi Arabian and Middle East markets. Cota real wireless power is poised to be as globally ubiquitous as wifi and Bluetooth. Wirelessly powered cities, logistics and industrial use cases will roll out with a similar trajectory as other foundational technologies that were once considered emerging tech. Working with a company as forward thinking as IoT Squared will enable products to get to market faster, solving the most critical challenge of IoT roll out, power. IoT Squared will also work with Ossia to build out a wireless power centre of excellent in Saudi Arabia to showcase how wireless power will impact existing devices and the devices of the future.”

Cota works similarly to wifi except, instead of sending data, it sends power. The Cota power receiver embedded into any device initiates power transfer by sending a beacon signal to find a Cota power transmitter. The transmitter then sends power back in the same exact reflected paths. This conversation between the device and transmitter happens one hundred times per second to send power safely to devices at a distance while in motion even in crowded environments. All Cota-enabled devices will receive power simultaneously.

IoT Squared was established as a 50:50 joint venture between STC and PIF specialising in the IoT. With over SR492m in funding, IoT Squared is positioned to be a regional hub for the IoT in the Middle East and North Africa, bearing the objective to accelerate the adoption of IoT technologies.

Ossia’s flagship Cota technology redefines wireless power by safely delivering remote, targeted energy to devices at a distance. The patented smart antenna technology automatically keeps multiple devices charged without any user intervention and enables an efficient and wire-free, powered-up world that is always on and always connected. Ossia is headquartered in Redmond, Washington.