Sydney-based Internet of Things (IoT) start-up Thinxtra is partnering with Sigfox to bring its IoT network to Australia and New Zealand.

Sigfox, which raised $115 million in funding last year to extend its proprietary network for low power devices, provides a dedicated communications service for IoT, and claims its solution is cost-effective and energy-efficient.

Thinxtra launched in 2015 to become a Sigfox network operator. It will deploy and operate a nationwide network in both countries as well as offer subscription-based Sigfox communications service to businesses and consumers.

The companies claim the network requires far-lighter infrastructure than traditional wireless networks, and plan to offer coverage to 30 per cent of all the population of Australia and New Zealand by the end of 2016, extending to 85 per cent within 18 months.

Thinxtra will get backing from Rakon Limited, a New Zealand company that designs and manufactures frequency control solutions for the communications infrastructure, aerospace and defence markets.

“Australia and New Zealand businesses are early adopters of the IoT and we have already identified a huge demand for innovative applications in multiple sectors, such as asset tracking and management, smart metering for utilities, smart irrigation, crop monitoring and cattle tracking for the agriculture sector, as well as a wide range of smart-city solutions,” said Loic Barancourt, CEO of Thinxtra.

Sigfox said extending its network to the Asia-Pacific region is a “major milestone”, and it plans to roll out its network across the whole region within the next three years.

The move also helps it get close to its 2016 goal of rolling out its service to more than 30 countries and being present on all continents.

Currently, its network is in 14 countries and has more than 7 million objects registered on it.

Last month, operator Altice announced a deal to integrate Sigfox’s network within its operations in France through SFR and across its global footprint, bucking a trend by its domestic rivals to deploy LoRA-based low power IoT technology.