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Myriota and Optus sign deal on IoT connectivity
Myriota and Optus Business will leverage each other’s connectivity and network footprint to help Australia’s industries connect up internet of things sensors in remote areas
Myriota, an Adelaide-based nanosatellite startup, has teamed up with the business arm Australian telco Optus to provide remote and regional connectivity for internet things (IoT) devices and applications.
Announcing the partnership today, Optus Business said the deal would combine its network and digital capabilities with Myriota’s direct-to-orbit nanosatellite technology to support massive-scale, low-cost communications for IoT devices in remote areas.
Enterprises across Australia’s industries are expected to benefit from the partnership, which will enable them to track assets remotely using low-cost, long-battery life sensors over long distances.
Myriota is a growing player in Australia’s space industry that specialises in satellite communications for the IoT. It plans to expand its fleet satellites to 25 by 2022 and will provide sensor connectivity for future space missions conducted by the Australian Space Agency.
Chris Mitchell, managing director Optus Business, said working with startups like Myriota would enable the telco to help its customers capture the business benefits next-generation technologies.
Alex Grant, CEO and co-founder Myriota, said the agreement would unlock new opportunities for IoT applications across a wide variety industries.
“Remote connectivity has long been the missing piece the puzzle for IoT across industries like logistics and farming, and we are thrilled to partner with Optus Business to provide a comprehensive connectivity offering,” he said.
“Previously, satellite connectivity has not been available or affordable for businesses with remote assets, but nanosatellites are providing a more attainable and affordable solution.
“By combining Optus’ national networks with our nanosatellite capability, we are able to offer a truly holistic IoT solution and help solve connectivity issues being faced in regional Australia.”
Read more about IoT in Australia
- The Australian government has pledged more funds towards deploying a Sigfox-based network that will be used to power smart city and clean energy applications across the country.
- Perth-based Citic Pacific Mining has implemented an analytics and IoT system from SAP to track its assets and shore up operational efficiency.
- The IoT may have benefited industries such as oil and gas, but issues such as connectivity are holding back adoption in Australia.
- An Australian upstart is using smart meters and cloud-based microservices to shake up the energy sector.
In March 2018, Myriota secure $15m in a Series A funding round led by Australian venture capital firms Main Sequence Ventures and BlueSky Venture Capital.
Other investors that took part in the same funding round included Boeing HorizonX Ventures, Right Click Capital and Singtel Innov8, the venture capital arm of Optus’ parent company, Singtel.
In 2017, the Australian government said it was committing up to A$10m to help companies monitor and manage their operations through an IoT network focused on cutting energy use.
Made through the A$200m Clean Energy Innovation Fund, the investment will go to the Sigfox-based low-powered wide area network operated by Australian IoT network operator Thinxtra, which aims to connect up 17 million objects by 2022.
