Digital Matter has a strong passion for creating solutions that enhance efficiency, safety, and visibility across various sectors, including logistics, agriculture, and construction. Pioneering battery-powered asset tracking, they’ve manufactured over 2 million devices, establishing a global presence with offices in the United States, Europe, Africa, and Australia.

Their asset tracking and sensor monitoring solutions operate on diverse LPWAN (Low-Power Wide-Area Network) technologies, tailored to specific use cases. With 2G and 3G network sunsets accelerating globally, businesses around the world are upgrading their asset tracking hardware to utilise new connectivity options, such as Narrowband IoT, a Low- Power Wide-Area Cellular Network designed for the Internet of Things.

These Cellular networks are particularly well suited for battery-powered asset tracking applications, like trailer, bin, container, livestock and equipment tracking, as they support incredibly low power consumption for longer battery life, improved range and penetration indoors, and overall better performance.

Introduction to Vodacom Business

The pivotal moment arrived when Digital Matter engaged with Vodacom Business, recognising the potential of this partnership in the network domain. They embarked on testing Vodacom’s cutting-edge network infrastructure for “Device Type Approval”, showcasing the advantages of this technology.

Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT)

Vodacom Business’s NB-IoT solution facilitates cost- effective connectivity for a range of IoT devices. Operating on a dedicated part of the cellular spectrum, NB-IoT is ideal for devices requiring long-lasting battery life, such as smart meters. It ensures efficient communication, opening up possibilities for applications like smart cities and asset tracking while conserving network resources. The key benefits of NB-IoT include extended battery life, excellent coverage even in challenging environments, lower device costs and support for deployment of a large number of devices in an area.

Strong collaborations

Digital Matter’s partnership with Vodacom has strengthened over time. They collaborated on various use cases and engaged Vodacom’s solution partners, fostering a collaborative ecosystem that drives innovation and addresses complex challenges. This partnership has unlocked new possibilities and enhanced the efficiency of IoT solutions. The most significant benefits realised from this collaboration are in power consumption and battery efficiency, with energy savings surpassing 30 times those of 2G.

As they look ahead, Digital Matter anticipates complete national NB-IoT coverage, excited to enable low-power solutions on this new future-proof network. They’re committed to maximising the network’s potential through collaboration and support for new NB- IoT functionalities. This partnership not only enhances the capabilities of both companies but also results in cost savings, reinforcing the mutually beneficial nature of this relationship. Digital Matter’s journey with Vodacom Business highlights the transformative power of collaborative innovation in the IoT landscape.

Find out more about Vodacom Narrowband IOT today.