Iranian technology activists have launched “The Things Network of Tehran,” a global open crowdsourced Internet of Things data network, which is the first of its kind in the Middle East.
Ali Rahmanpour, the project manager, told Mehr News Agency that the first phase of the network has been launched in Tehran’s Narmak district and will soon cover the whole capital.
“This gateway has been launched as part of the global The Things Network and is considered the first active TTN gateway in the Middle East,” he said.
Rahmanpour noted that The Things Network has been launched in Iran with the aim of establishing an open, decentralized global network based on crowdsourcing.
“The network uses the Lora technology for its radio access, which is one of the two main technologies with low bit rate communication and long range for the Internet of things,” he said.
According to the project manager, the structure of TTN, due to its openness, is more transparent compared to other networks and enjoys high security because of its high-level encryption.
“In the next decade, IoT will be one of the most significant areas to help mankind use innovative solutions, so it is necessary to supply creative people with what they need,” he said.
“We believe providing an open IoT access network through crowdsourcing will be a key factor to remove barriers and bring the spirit of innovation to the telecoms industry. We imagine a day when successful teams using this open network become sponsors to extend this movement to other cities.”
The benefit of the social WiFi is that The Things Network is set up in a decentralized way and does not have a single point of control or failure, according to its main site.
The Things Network was first launched in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and in less than four weeks, managed to spread its coverage to the whole city.
Rahmanour said the lifting of sanctions against Iran following the implementation of the nuclear deal in January allowed his team to obtain the permits to launch a branch of TTN in Tehran.
Erfan Taherkhani, technical assistant of Tehran TTN, said his team is currently working on the launch of two other gateways in central and western parts of Tehran.
“Preliminary estimates show that with about 10 gateways, we can fully cover Tehran under The Things Network’s early coverage,” he said.
In March, TTN announced on its site that it announced its 100th community with a total of 1,000 members supporting their global initiative.
