Telstra has activated a second internet of things standard on its national network, bringing narrowband internet of things (NB-IoT) to all major cities and many regional towns.
NB-IoT is one of two internationally recognised IoT standards, suited for connected devices that transmit less than 100KB of data per second and have batteries lasting multiple years, such as moisture sensors and livestock tracking devices.
The other standard Telstra supports is CAT-M1, suitable for devices transmitting more than 100s of kilobits of data per second to support mobility and voice for devices such as vehicle telematics, asset tracking and healthcare wearables.
In August last year, Telstra switched on its IoT network with CAT-M1 support, covering three million square kilometres and 99 percent of Australia's population.
Telstra COO Robyn Denholm called on local developers and entrepreneurs to take advantage of Telstra's IoT network, particularly for application in agriculture, mining, manufacturing, transport and logistics.
"These network capabilities are crucial but for IoT to truly take off in Australia it will require a vibrant IoT ecosystem developing solutions designed for local conditions and solving problems for local businesses," she said.
"In particular, this is a fantastic opportunity for Australian startups to build IoT products and solutions operating on two internationally recognised technologies."
Telstra also has a consumer IoT platform called Telstra Smart Home, which launched in late 2016. The platform launched with 10 devices including smart locks and switches, and has since expanded to include 15 devices.
Speaking at CES in Las Vegas this week, Telstra consumer group executive Vicki Brady said that smart home customers typically integrate four to six IoT devices upon adopting the platform.
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