Tasmania’s minister for IT and Innovation, Michael Ferguson, has announced a plan to provide a Launceston-wide LoRaWAN network at a cost of $100,000, with the gateways and devices to be manufactured by local company Definium.
Other partners in the project are the University of Tasmania, the CSIRO and Sense-T — the long running Tasmanian IoT research project.
Ferguson said the work on the pilot network would commence immediately and was expected to be operational early in 2017. It will be run from the new Enterprize Launceston innovation hub. Approximately 10 base stations will be deployed which, Ferguson said, would have a range of up to 20 kms.
”Launceston is becoming known as one of Australia’s prime start up cities and the LORA project … will only accelerate this process,” he said. “The network will enable a host of innovative new projects involving transport, monitoring, inventory control, health, traffic and sensing all in real time.”
He added: “Launceston has been selected by the federal government as one of the three initial smart cities and the state government is kick-starting that project with a community-driven IT network that will become a showcase for the rest of the country.”
Definium describes itself as a developer of bespoke hardware and software. “[The company] has the hardware and software expertise to build custom solutions for your business challenges,” it says. “We’ve covered the spectrum, from automotive fuel control and humane animal tracking through to balance-oriented medical rehabilitation systems. Bring your ideas to us and see what our dedication can do.”
Its web site shows images for projects in irrigation, balance rehabilitation, power and water usage, fuel control, tourist tracking and smart digital analogue converter for audio, but provides little other information.
Ferguson announced Enterprize Launceston on 30 September saying it would initially be housed in a pop-up space on Paterson Street before moving to its permanent location at Macquarie House.
“As with Hobart hub, which opened last week, the centre in Launceston has a focus on developing the local start-up community, providing the resources and support required to inspire and accelerate a generation of students, innovators and entrepreneurs,” Ferguson said.
“Enterprize Launceston will bring people together, provide a location, training and hands-on mentoring to develop, evaluate and implement, pre-start-up and early stage business opportunities. It will enable us to tap into the many hundreds of ideas from all segments of the community.”
hraftery says
I would have done it for $50,000. And made 400% profit.