Vodafone has increased its IoT network footprint in New Zealand. Its IoT network is expected to pass 60% geographic coverage within three years.

With the ever-growing rise of the IoT, and 5G opening up the potential of even more connected devices, Vodafone continues to build its IoT coverage footprint to support New Zealand businesses as they seek productivity and operational benefits.

The carrier already provides IoT coverage on both NB-IoT and LTE-M, and expects to reach greater than 60% geographic land coverage on NB-IoT over the next few years as its regional investment programme continues and Rural Broadband Initiative 2 (RBI2) reaches completion.

“We’re seeing increasing numbers of New Zealand businesses expand their IoT strategies and bring more connected devices and sensors into their operations to maximise productivity, particularly within the agriculture sector as a key growth engine of our economy,” said Tony Baird, wholesale and infrastructure director at Vodafone NZ. “We’re pleased the RBI2 rollout on Cat-M is now live to complement Cat-M on the Vodafone network, and NB-IoT network expansion plans also continue to progress well. We’re proud to currently offer the largest NB-IoT network in Aotearoa New Zealand.”

He said NB-IoT was great for low power, wide area coverage for applications such as metering of power and water, while Cat-M offered lower range but higher bandwidth for applications such as video and security.

“With 5G heralding in the era of connected devices, we expect IoT to become even more important to NZ businesses now and in the future,” said Baird.

Vodafone has reached over 60% geographic coverage for IoT devices in the Manawatū-Whanganui region, with network investments continuing to connect other parts of the country. This supplements the Vodafone 4G network which now reaches more than 97% of the population in Manawatū-Whanganui.

“As a long, thin, often sparsely populated country, it is hard to offer connectivity to all of New Zealand’s land mass, but our greater than 60% target will provide IoT coverage to the vast majority of our agricultural and productive land,” said Baird. “Technology continues to evolve and for businesses buying new IoT solutions, which often are investment decisions that can last at least ten years, we recommend purchasing devices that connect to newer generation networks such as 4G and 5G.”