NetComm Wireless launches industrial IoT modem

Australian telecommunications infrastructure equipment provider, NetCom Wireless has today added to its indusrial Internet of Things(IoT) portfolio, launching the first commercially available modem which enables 4G LTE connectivity for low power and low bandwidth devices.

The NetComm NTC-100 provides a cost-effective way for businesses to remotely manage, control and gather data from their low power devices, reducing reliance on proprietary, unlicensed networks for connection.

Its advanced remote management capabilities allow for a wide range of automation and monitoring with businesses able to query status information, run advanced diagnostics, troubleshoot and execute commands via SMS.

“This will accelerate the uptake of Industrial IoT by providing diverse industry sectors with the chance to connect and cost-effectively manage large fleets of small, low-value assets everywhere where there is an LTE network available.”

Els Baert, NetComm Director of Marketing and Communications

NetComm Director of Marketing and Communications, Els Baert, said low power devices are increasingly being introduced by businesses to optimise operations and reduce running costs.

“This is the first low power, low bandwidth device introduced to our industrial IoT portfolio and the only device of its kind to integrate a dual technology LTE module using Cat -M1 and NB-IoT technologies to economically track and monitor low-cost applications that were traditionally too costly to connect,” Baert said.

“This will accelerate the uptake of Industrial IoT by providing diverse industry sectors with the chance to connect and cost-effectively manage large fleets of small, low-value assets everywhere where there is an LTE network available,” asserted Baert. 

“Whether it’s to find an economically viable means of monitoring environmental conditions, such as ocean levels, improve smart metering, monitor the farm or introduce smart city applications such as road signage, parking meters and bin collection,” noted Baert.

Built to endure vibration and extreme temperatures in harsh industrial, commercial and automotive environments, the NTC-100 contains IP40 rated industrial housing to ensure reliability and longevity in harsh remote and isolated climates.

The launch of the NTC-100 comes less than a week after Netcomm announced it had extended its agreement with nbn to supply a world-first product – the next generation of Reverse-Powered Distribution Point Units (DPUs), known as High port count DPUs.

Provided in 8 and 16 port variants, the new initial order of 10,000 High port count DPUs enables nbn to extend the Fibre to the Curb (FttC) network to higher density installation locations, such as multi-dwelling units, where bundled copper lines are prevalent. Advanced interference reduction technology (vectoring) is supported in the NetComm High port count DPU, which combined with Gfast (fibre like speed) capability, facilitates maximum throughput speeds to the connected premises.