LPWA Alliance Strategy: Example of Sigfox Alliance in Japan

Abstract

While IoT is penetrating into society, the communication method called LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) is rapidly developing. LPWA is a communication method born to automatically and inexpensively collect a lot of small information, and information and communication companies are trying to expand alliances managed by themselves by forming alliances with related companies. LPWA is largely composed of device, network and application, but it is difficult to own all of them on their own, form a business ecosystem, first compete to aim for the de facto standard of each country by each LPWA method. But what kind of mechanism is necessary to expand them? In this paper, we compare the characteristics of alliances managed by companies promoting LPWA, and clarify factors necessary for the development of ecosystem. Especially analyzed the Sigfox alliance in Japan, which is promoting strong cooperation, with securing the freedom to participate and leave. As a result, for creating and expanding business ecosystem, It has become clear that it is important to work closely in human and informational aspects to niche players.