IoT platform services provider Sigfox has partnered with Google Cloud to scale its cloud infrastructure and extend its IoT services portfolio.

This partnership will enable Sigfox to accelerate rapidly its massive IoT agenda, processing billions of messages each month from objects connected to the internet using data stored in the cloud.

Sigfox is a dedicated LPWAN service provider for connecting simple, low-powered, low-cost IoT devices to the internet. Already deployed in 72 countries, covering more than 1.3 billion people, Sigfox’s 0G network is used for a wide range of IoT use cases from tracking shipping containers and monitoring fire hydrants, to securing buildings and helping farmers monitor irrigation levels.

In recent years, due to an explosion in the number of internet-connected devices, Sigfox now processes billions of messages each month – an increase of 145% in 2020 – from the millions of objects connected to its network, and the company needed a more scalable, long-term option.

Google Cloud was chosen as the backbone for Sigfox’s 0G network to bring better scale, increased reliability, and compliance and security to Sigfox’s platform. Google Cloud will also enable faster improvements to Sigfox’s connectivity, geolocation and other value-added services towards low-cost and low-power IoT.

“We chose Google Cloud because we share the same appetite for driving digital transformation through helpful, reliable and sustainable innovation,” said Franck Siegel, deputy chief executive officer at Sigfox. “With this partnership, Google Cloud technology will support us in becoming the global leader in ultra-low-cost, ultra-low-power asset visibility and tracking.”

Sigfox’s shift to the cloud will transform many of the applications across the range of industries in which it operates including supply chain, logistics, automotive, postal services and utilities.

This includes the Sigfox auto parts offering that tracks components on their journeys between assembly plants and suppliers with sensor-equipped containers. Or products for utilities that digitise the data collection of gas consumption meters, retrofitted network controlling units and smart features. Also, shipping companies fit trolley rollers or containers with Sigfox smart trackers to give exact information on location, movement and condition.

All will be now cloud-enabled, helping provide a scalable and seamless way to manage exponential data growth.

“Google Cloud is proud to support Sigfox and provide an IoT leader with more reliability and flexibility as the company takes the next steps of its development,” said Samuel Bonamigo, vice president at Google Cloud. “Sigfox’s use of Google Cloud technology is the perfect illustration of how we’re helping innovative companies grow and thrive and better serve their customers.”

Google Cloud provides organisations with infrastructure and platform capabilities. It delivers enterprise-grade cloud that leverages Google’s technology to help companies operate more efficiently and adapt to changing needs. There are users in more than 150 countries.

With Sigfox, more than 17 million devices send over 60 million messages a day in key areas such as asset tracking and supply chain. Sigfox was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in France with offices in Madrid, Munich, Boston, Dallas, Dubai, Singapore, Sao Paulo and Tokyo.