New Hampshire-based Senet, a provider of cloud-based software and services, has partnered Grit Technologies to deliver carrier-grade LoRaWan connectivity to the Ohio River Valley and surrounding areas.

Based in Haubstadt, Indiana, Grit Technologies manages internet operations and provides consulting to an expanding client base of wireless, fibre and other service providers to deliver connectivity to the rural market.

To support its partners’ current and future IoT initiatives, Grit Technologies has become a Senet radio access network (RAN) partner. Through its deployment process, augmented by Senet’s RAN provider services, Grit Technologies is enabling its service provider partners to add new services such as IoT to their businesses.

With the rollout underway across Ohio and Indiana, gateways are being deployed in the primarily rural market, representing the region’s first comprehensive LoRaWan. Grit offers connectivity to users across markets for manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, utility and research initiatives. To expand IoT networks throughout the midwest, Grit has signed partnership agreements with fixed wireless providers. These partnerships allow wireless internet service providers (wisps) to focus on their core competencies while opening revenue opportunities.

Grit partner MetaLink Technologies in Ohio is a hybrid wisp that has embraced this technology and is at the forefront of bringing IoT opportunities to Ohio, Indiana and Michigan.

“We are excited about this partnership with Senet and Grit to enhance the region’s agricultural community,” said Phil Maag, MetaLink CEO. “Additionally, we are eager to explore how potential river valley studies can be used to improve the regions water quality with this state-of-the-art technology. The future of big data is here in the rural marketplace.”

Senet’s RAN provider tools provide network operators, providers, tower companies, municipalities and building owners with everything needed to design, deploy and manage carrier-grade indoor and outdoor LoRaWans.

“Building infrastructure for the IoT and other digitalisation initiatives is crucial to support economic growth in the Ohio River Valley and other rural regions,” said Roger Criblez, CEO of Grit Technologies. “LoRaWan has emerged as one of the most advanced, powerful and cost-effective IoT solutions, and Senet’s RAN provider tools make the technology easily accessible.”

Many organisations within the region have either set up small private IoT networks or haven’t implemented them yet. Now, they will have access to carrier-grade LoRaWans designed to support large numbers of IoT devices and applications from the pilot phase to full production.

“Rural regions have significant and rebounding economic activity, yet lag behind urbanised areas when it comes to IoT connectivity,” said Bruce Chatterley, CEO of Senet. “However, rural businesses require as much data about their assets, infrastructure and operations as their urban neighbours to make better, data-driven decisions. Our partnership with Grit Technologies is designed to level the playing field in the Ohio River Valley, providing the region access to a carrier-grade LoRaWan from farms to factories and everywhere in-between.”