Unabiz: IoT Connectivity from S$1 Per Year

UnaBiz has officially launched the first IoT (Internet of Things) dedicated network in Singapore at the inaugural UnaDay. Six months after its incorporation with Sigfox and ENGIE, and barely three months after being granted the FBO (Facilities-Based Operators) licence from IMDA, UnaBiz, the exclusive Sigfox network operator in Singapore and Taiwan, is now fully operational to deliver commercial grade connectivity and services for IoT in the city-state, starting from as low as S$1 per device per year.

Attended by an impressive panel of industry partners, representatives of government agencies and the media, the inaugural UnaDay was graced by the presence of Mr Christophe Fourtet, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer of Sigfox.

Henri Bong, CEO & Founder of UnaBiz, opened the event by announcing the LPWA network (low-power, wide-area) outdoor coverage at 95% of Singapore’s population and territory. The French technology essentially addressed the four greatest barriers to global IoT adoption: ultra-low power consumption, low capital and operational expenses, efficient and secure data handling, and long-range coverage.

With a fully operational network for connected objects nationwide, UnaBiz is capping its network subscription charges at S$1 per device per month, which comes with a data plan for up to 140 messages per day. Qualified channel partners who commit to volume can ultimately enjoy subscription charges from as low as S$1 per device per year. Jonathan Tan, Vice President Business Development & Sales, UnaBiz said, “Sigfox’s technology is built for massive deployment and we are offering ultra-low cost connectivity to grow exponentially the base of devices that can access the network. Compared to existing local networks, businesses on our global network can generate savings of at least 90% off data plan subscription charges.”

The network operator also honoured its incredible ecosystem of partners. From multinational solution providers, such as Dimension Data, Fujitsu and Kyocera, to device manufacturers, such as Advantech and Aztech, over thirty ecosystem partners participated in the MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) signing ceremony on the occasion.

Among them, leading fibre broadband provider MyRepublic shared their decision to partner with UnaBiz. “MyRepublic shares UnaBiz’s vision for a vibrant and accessible IoT eco-system in Singapore. We look forward to working with UnaBiz to develop an exciting suite of IoT solutions, reach new market segments and fast-track the adoption of IoT.” – Yap Yong Teck, MD MyRepublic Singapore.

Andy Cocks, Chief Technology Officer, Dimension Data said, “What UnaBiz is doing in Singapore is part of a global IoT movement led by Sigfox. I believe this is a game changing technology that will make IoT a reality for thousands of companies in Singapore, at a palatable price point.”

Representatives from local tertiary institutions such as NUS Enterprise, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic were also present. “The collaboration with partners such as UnaBiz and Sigfox provides our students with access to technologies that help hone their skills in developing smart solutions. Students from courses such as our Specialist Diploma in Internet of Things (IoT) gain relevant hands-on training to respond to industry needs,” said Mr Oh Chin Lock, Director, School of Informatics & IT, Temasek Polytechnic.

The event concluded with the announcement of UnaBiz Ventures, a new entity set up to support start-ups to join the IoT Revolution and bring their ideas from conception to reality. Aspiring entrepreneurs can leverage on UnaBiz’s ecosystem of experts and developers to accelerate their go-to-market process and deploy solutions in Singapore and beyond, where the Sigfox’s network is readily present in 30 other countries globally.

“This is just the beginning, we have built an impressive ecosystem in mere six months, a clear sign of an enormous appetite and an accelerating demand for IoT solutions in the local market. We are proud to kick off the IoT Revolution in Singapore in alignment with the goal of becoming the first Smart Nation in the world. We are confident that our strategy and solutions will soon be replicated across Asia and beyond,” said Henri Bong, CEO & Founder, UnaBiz.