Sigfox

Sigfox is a French telecommunications company that operates a global low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) for the Internet of Things (IoT). The network uses ultra-narrowband UNB radio modulation to enable inexpensive, low-energy devices to send small messages over long distances.

Its architecture consists of a network of base stations that receive transmissions from IoT devices and forward payload data to the Sigfox Core Network, which routes it to customer applications via cloud services. The system typically covers wide geographic areas with a focus on low data rates and energy efficiency, resulting in extended battery life for sensors and meters. The service relies on sub-GHz ISM bands, with regional frequency allocations.

Uplink payloads are small (commonly up to 12 bytes per message). The system supports multiple uplink messages per day, with limited opportunities for downlink messages.

History and market: Sigfox was founded in 2010 by Ludovic Le Moan and Christophe Fourtet in France. It launched commercial networks in the mid-2010s and has grown through partnerships with national operators and technology providers to offer global coverage in many countries. It positions itself as a provider of simple, low-cost IoT connectivity for simple devices and use cases such as asset tracking, environmental monitoring, and smart metering. It competes with other LPWAN technologies like LoRaWAN and NB-IoT.