Containers of Österreichische Post AG Equipped with IoT from Heliot

The Austrian Post chooses the smart way – together with Heliot, the exclusive operator of the Sigfox 0G network in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Around 40,000 roll containers of the Austrian Post will be equipped with the Sigfox tracking solution.

(Vienna) The Austrian Post is now relying on 0G: To optimize its supply chains in the letter and parcel network with the help of the Internet of Things (IoT), improve customer service, and reduce its CO2 footprint, Österreichische Post AG (ÖPAG, WKN: A0JML5) is now using the 0G network from Heliot, the exclusive operator of the Sigfox IoT Low-Power-Wide-Area (LPWA) network in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.

The goal is to equip around 40,000 roll containers with intelligent sensors before the Christmas season, allowing tracking of each container’s location via the Sigfox 0G network.

For the geolocation of the roll containers, the product features Sigfox Atlas WiFi and Sigfox Atlas Native are used. Through triangulation within the Sigfox network, the approximate position can also be calculated without a Wi-Fi connection. The accuracy ranges from a few meters to about 100 meters, depending on the density of Wi-Fi networks. The sensors are manufactured by AlpsAlpine, an IoT solution partner for Sigfox products.

Reduction of CO2 Footprint through Supply Chain Optimization

ÖPAG is the leading logistics and postal service provider in the country and transported approximately 127 million parcels in Austria alone in 2019. To enable this, internal resources must always be available – including the approximately 40,000 roll containers for letter and parcel transport within Austria. Both the recording and evaluation of the actual number of roll containers and the tracking and localization have proven to be difficult so far.

With the use of trackers, ÖPAG aims to save avoidable costs, optimize supply chains, avoid empty deliveries, and minimize the surplus of roll containers. At the same time, the CO2 footprint can also be reduced by optimizing the transport routes of the roll containers.

Heliot is Europe’s Largest Sigfox 0G Network Operator

Based in Vienna, Lausanne, and Munich, the company Heliot, founded in Switzerland in 2017, is the exclusive operator of the innovative Sigfox IoT-LPWA network in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and Liechtenstein, making it the largest Sigfox 0G operator in Europe.

Globally, the Sigfox 0G network is available in a total of 72 countries. The cross-border Sigfox technology is a European solution and, unlike 5G, is already fully operational today. It is also a sensible and cost-effective alternative to the existing Narrowband Internet of Things (NBIoT).

In Austria, there is currently a 44 percent network coverage, which already includes the majority of all important Austrian infrastructure locations for logistics and agriculture. The network coverage is expected to be expanded to 65 percent by the end of the year.

Austrian Post Becomes a Pioneer of Industry 4.0 with Heliot

Martin Liboswar, Managing Director of Heliot in Austria, says: “With ÖPAG, we have gained Austria’s leading logistics and postal service provider as a partner who has recognized the opportunities of the Sigfox 0G network for itself. Together, we are taking a significant step towards automation and digitalization in industry and logistics.”

Mathias Flandorfer, project manager at ÖPAG, adds: “As one of the largest logistics providers in Austria, we want to lead the way in our industry when it comes to digitalization. This particularly means using intelligent technology to make our processes more climate-friendly, cost-effective, and efficient. With the 0G network from Sigfox, we have found a top-notch solution to leverage the opportunities of the modern Internet of Things for applications that do not require real-time transmission, even for mass deployment in the field.”

Sigfox 0G Technology: Sustainable, Efficient, Cost-Effective

Heliot Europe offers a sustainable and affordable basis with the Sigfox 0G network to integrate everyday objects into the digitalization processes of companies, organizations, and households. Small data packets can be transmitted over long distances using low-frequency radio technology. Currently, 21 million devices are already transmitting their information to the Sigfox base stations and into the Sigfox Cloud up to 140 times a day, each with 12 bytes. This technology is energy-efficient, cost-effective, nearly maintenance-free, and better suited for the mass of IoT applications. Major corporations like Michelin, DHL, and Airbus are already relying on IoT solutions from Sigfox.

Sigfox sensors emit significantly lower radiation than a normal Wi-Fi device, have a considerably greater range, and are extremely low-maintenance. Depending on the application, the sensors can run for up to ten years on a single battery. Additionally, the sensors are virtually hack-proof, significantly reducing the risk and effort against interference and cyberattacks. This makes this technology suitable not only for industrial applications but also as a simpler alternative or complement to projects in areas such as Smart City, Smart Facility, or even in the care of elderly individuals.

Photo: © Österreichische Post

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