Ventia recently showcased their Internet of Things (IoT) capability at the 2018 TUANZ Rural Connectivity Symposium in Wellington, New Zealand. Garth Spencer, Business Development Manager for Visionstream, spoke about how connected technology can unlock the economic potential of rural communities.

Vianet, Ventia's IoT business, leverages low-power wide area networks (LoRaWAN) technology to create a network of connected smart-devices - providing real-time data across a range of use-cases for water and electricity utilities, telecommunications business, facilities management and asset management. With operations across utility services, asset and infrastructure services and telecommunications, Ventia is ideally placed to use field data to help businesses become more efficient.

"At Visionstream, we work with the Vianet business as they design and manufacture the fit-for-purpose, low-cost sensor devices used to gather data in the field," said Garth.

Within our telecommunications offering, we can then deploy and operate the networks that deliver this technology. We offer services to help businesses analyse the data to make better asset management decisions, improve service levels and reduce costs, he said.

Arjun Narang, general manager of Vianet, said he is optimistic about the future of connected technology, with the recent surge in interest for this service.

"Coliban Water is one of many clients already using Vianet's IoT-based automatic meter reading devices to digitise and transform their business," said Arjun.

"Shoalhaven Water, Christchurch City Council and our larger telecommunications clients are all using our end-to-end services to change the way they approach asset management."

The audience at the 2018 TUANZ Rural Connectivity Symposium included agribusiness, political and community leaders from across New Zealand.

^{Pictured above: Garth Spencer presents on the Internet of Things at the TUANZ Rural Connectivity Symposium}