Emergent Connext has announced the launch of its innovative IoT network solution in Northwest Ohio, with the City of Defiance as its first customer, to address connectivity in rural communities.
In collaboration with MetaLINK Technologies, based in Defiance, Emergent Connext is addressing the connectivity gap in rural areas and agricultural fields. This affordable, long-range network will enable smart IoT sensors and devices for smart cities and agricultural technology to connect to the internet in real time. According to Mike Roudi, CEO of Emergent Connext, the network will enhance capabilities for rural municipalities, reduce operating expenses, and improve profitability while conserving natural resources.
Defiance will be the first of many ‘Emergent Smart Communities,’ setting a precedent for leveraging IoT technologies to manage smart lighting, building occupancy, propane tank fill levels, and remote leak detection, thus enhancing operational efficiencies and environmental impact.
“By automating essential functions, Emergent’s IoT network enhances the efficiency and sustainability of rural infrastructure, reduces costs, and improves residents’ quality of life,” said Roudi. “Partnering with MetaLINK to launch our IoT network in Defiance marks a pivotal moment for rural communities to transform how they interact with their citizens. This initiative sets the stage for Defiance to become a catalyst in Ohio, encouraging other rural communities to deploy IoT devices for economic development, safety, education, healthcare, and resource management.”
“Incorporating smart devices and monitoring into the City of Defiance’s infrastructure is something we have been working on for a long Ame,” said Ryan Mack, City Administrator. “Emergent’s IoT network will allow us to monitor our remote buildings for real-time leak detection and reduce our energy consumption by deploying smart lighting and HVAC sensors.”
MetaLINK, a provider of broadband and communication services in Northwest Ohio, is enthusiastic about this collaboration. Phil Maag, CEO of MetaLINK, said: “This partnership allows us to leverage our infrastructure and expertise to support the City of Defiance and the surrounding farming community, not to mention agribusinesses as a whole, enabling rural communities and farmers to harness the power of real-time data and technology to flourish.”
Emergent’s IoT network aims to connect millions of affordable IoT devices, such as those monitoring propane tanks and water meters, reducing waste and local tax burdens. This technology has been successfully implemented in commercial-scale farming, with a recent deployment at Terranova Ranch in California’s Central Valley.
When fully implemented, Emergent’s IoT network will cover 2.4 million square miles of rural geography, including 1.5 million square miles of agricultural land, revolutionising rural communities and agriculture through data-driven decision-making.
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