Laying the ground for a LoRaWAN network, the AR Technology way

The Challenge

Research and development (R&D) include activities that companies undertake to innovate and introduce new products and services to the world. It is often the first stage in the development process, after the idea of course. The ultimate goal is to take new products and services to market, by evaluating that market and adjusting those new products accordingly.

In order to do this, businesses often take on risks. But progress is not possible without it.

Having achieved full telecom license authorization and compliance with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), AR Technology plans to establish both private and public LoEaWAN networks across all of Oman. They are currently the first licensed IoT network provider in the country. To accomplish this ambitious task, the company intents to work closely with RAKwireless for deploying RAK gateways-based network infrastructure and for further working on collaboration projects using the modular solution WisBlock for developing various IoT devices.

AR Technology focuses mainly on LoRaWAN-based IoT solutions both network provisioning and IoT devices. LoRaWAN is a relatively new technology to the country and every new solution or product needs to go through R&D. For a successful achievement and a satisfactory outcome, the most important thing is to have hardware and software that is reliable, flexible, and preferably has other benefits as well.

AR Technology found RAK to be one of the few manufacturers actually providing GIT repositories for most devices and gateways they offer, something they really consider essential in their business. Ease of use and high customization level, including very detailed documentation and great support are those other benefits that really tip the scale.

With the right tools in hand, AR Technology tackles the new market by taking their time and not shuffling through the processes. A thorough R&D is the key to success.

Outcome

By maintaining their focus on their client’s demands, AR Technology are committed to continuously strengthening their innovative and inventive power to steadily expand the efficiency and security of their IoT sensor solutions and IoT wireless networks to make operating data visible and in real-time. AR Technology is paving the way for the next wave of technology in Oman and possibly in the bigger part of the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region as well.

The company’s efforts are already gaining recognition and popularity. An already deployed solution is currently providing a LoRaWAN network service to large luxury resort areas in Oman for smart meter readings. The clients were amazed at the fact that the company’s experts managed to provide full coverage in a very mountainous area and even succeeded in obtaining readings from underground buried water meters using just 2 x RAK7249 gateways.

AR Technology has many upcoming projects including Oman's first public IoT network using TTNv3 to spread across the whole sultanate. They are thinking to go even further with projects in remote areas in the oil and gas field. With comprehensive R&D, the company can afford to plan big.