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Thorigné-FouillardandRennes, France, Sept. 6, 2018: Demonstrating the flexibility of LoRa® technology to bring the benefits of the Internet of Things to virtually any outdoor setting, Kerlink (ALKLK – FR0013156007) and Tech4Race, an innovative sports-event tracking company, have deployed a LoRaWANTM network at an endurance-riding event in the Abu Dhabi desert: Al Ain Endurance Cup.
The customized small private network is a ground-based geolocation system that includes Kerlink WirnetTM stations for access to a LoRa® IoT network, LoRa-enabled trackers developed by Tech4Race and worn by contestants, and a web interface that allows event organizers to track them through the course. The web interface also allows spectators to follow the race on their smartphones, including the location and status of specific runners.
LoRa® technology, which operates on unlicensed ISM bands, makes these services possible, securely and without data interference from other networks. In addition, the narrowband technology optimizes small data-rate transmissions, which typically extend battery life of devices for five to ten years.
With the Tech4Race system, event organizers simultaneously achieve different complementary objectives:
– Precise positioning enabled by the device assures that participants stay on the official route.
– Volunteers and medical and security teams can be coordinated to intervene in case of an emergency and to ensure the quality of the event.
– Spectators can follow participants’ progress in real time and won’t miss a checkpoint or convenient opportunity to encourage their favourite athletes.
“The innovation of Tech4Race’s solution, which can be installed at competitive events ranging from golf tournaments, riding and running events and swim meets in virtually any location, is exemplified by the miniaturization of the trackers, the flexible business model that enables small private networks designed for unique events and the overall solution reliability,” said Stéphane Dejean, Kerlink’s CMO.
“In deployments where a GSM-based solution could be limited by white zones and network interference, the LoRa-based tracking system offers superior robustness and reliability,” said Fabien Letort, Tech4Race cofounder and head of product & service development. “Kerlink helps us deliver this service by providing an agile, easy-to-deploy and to use architecture that fits perfectly with our need for quick-and-easy integration.”
About Kerlink Group
Kerlink Group is a global leading provider of end-to-end network solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT), serving telecom operators, businesses and public authorities worldwide. Its growing suite of turnkey IoT services includes network planning, design and operational management that maximizes performance of its market-leading, carrier-grade infrastructure offering. The Group, widely recognized for its IoT expertise, also continually introduces innovative value-added services, such as network-based geolocation, remote end-device management and low-power IoT reference design, which allows its customers to quickly bring to market IoT-ready devices and to imagine innovative business models to monetize their deployments.
In just over 10 years, more than 100,000 Kerlink installations have been deployed in more than 69 countries. In 2017 Kerlink supplied more than 330 customers, including major telecom operators such as Tata Communications, and service providers such as GrDF and Suez. The company’s solutions are enabling IoT networks worldwide with major deployments in Europe, South Asia, South America and Oceania. Kerlink, a co-founder and board member of the LoRa AllianceTM, has invested more than €10 million in research in the past three years. In 2017, Kerlink Group generated revenues of nearly €25 million, more than 50 percent internationally. Since 2013, it has posted average annual growth of more than 62 percent. It has been listed on Euronext Growth Paris since May 2016 and was added to the EnterNext PEA-PME 150, an index of 150 fast-growing French SMEs, in 2017.
For more information, visit www.kerlink.com or follow us on Twitter @kerlink_news.
About Tech4Race
Tech4Race offers a real-time tracking solution for outdoor sports events, based on the geolocation of all participants. Designed for outdoor sports (running, triathlon, cycling, water sports, golf, …), the solution consists of an innovative GPS tracker coupled with a web interface tracking the race. This is the first live tracking solution dedicated to sport using the LoRa® network. The company, created in 2016, has already equipped over 2,100 participants (August 2018) on endurance events, triathlons and running.
For more information, visit www.tech4race.com or Twitter @tech4race