Interview with Tomeu Tugores, manager of IBETEC.
It is a public entity that belongs to the Conselleria of Public Administration and Modernization of the Balearics Islands, it is within the field of telecommunications, highlighting two main areas: digital television services and professional communications services for the security and emergency entities (network TetraIB) but today the topic of our interview focuses on IOT (Internet of Things).
What is the objective of the IOTIB network?
IoTIB was born with the aim of providing powerful communications service to public administrations that want to integrate “smart” devices.
It has 24 stations, each station can receive the signals from up to 2000 sensors and distribute its data. What sensors are working?
Sensors of various types are currently in operation, sensors for measuring water levels, environmental conditions, parking, meteorological stations …
IBETEC telecommunication tower, what kind of other sensors can be added?
When thinking about integrable sensors within the IoTIB network, the possibilities are very high. Consumption measurement sensors can be integrated (electricity consumption, water meters), sensors to control lighting, capacity control, equipment tracking, etc.
What are the technological requirements to connect sensors with these stations, programming language, authorization or certification, reasons, maintenance?
An essential requirement is to use the LoRaWAN protocol as well as to use the 868 MHz band. If you want to make use of the IoTIB network, prior authorization by IBETEC is required, as well as the inclusion of the necessary parameters to successfully connect and in a safe way.
The programming and maintenance language of the sensors depends exclusively on the sensor itself.
Do you have a pilot project and can you explain what its purpose and how it works?
We have a project to adapt a measuring station to the IoTIB service.
It is a project that provides communication capacity to a measuring station to be able, among others, to analyze the data at the time it is recorded and to reduce the reaction time to failures.
More information on the project and its operation can be obtained in the book “Good practices and considerations for the deployment of measurement stations using the IoTIB platform”.
Who has developed each piece of the application?
We have worked together with the University of the Balearic Islands to develop the pilot project.
Where are the stations located?
The stations are installed in the telecommunications towers that we have, as well as several “public” buildings.
Currently 20 stations are operating on the island of Mallorca and 4 on the island of Menorca.
What coverage do you offer?
The typical coverage of the stations is up to 20 km in rural environments, but thanks to the location in high areas of the telecommunications towers, the coverage range is significantly increased.
Will there be more stations coming soon?
We are currently in the “trunk” development to supply the entire Balearic territory. Once this initial deployment is completed, we will expand the network according to the coverage needs for the different projects that may emerge or, to the lack of coverage in certain areas.
What should public companies and local administrations do to take advantage of this network?
Contact IBETEC to sign an agreement to join the IoTIB network.
What benefits can they get?
Using the IoTIB network is a workload for local administrations and public companies because IBETEC is responsible for the work and costs of maintaining telecommunications infrastructures as well as ensuring maximum service, using redundancies in all critical aspects to avoid service cuts.
How can you help a city council design projects based on data capture and analysis in your municipality? What parts of the project do you advise from IBETEC and which should be subcontracted?
IBETEC can advise on the integration of devices in the network, as well as how to recover data from devices, also facilitating access to the IoTIB platform, which can be used to carry out checks on the proper integration and operation of devices. In other words, IBETEC can advise the phases of the information transport, from sending to retrieval. The proper treatment of it falls on the administration that develops the project.
The sensorization part (purchase, installation and maintenance) and the development and maintenance of data collection and processing software will not be the responsibility of IBETEC except in some exceptional cases and, therefore, must be contracted to specialized companies.
What other communication networks does IBETEC manage and what are the main functions they have?
IBETEC manages the TETRAIB network (security and emergency communications network) and the extension of DTT in the Balearic territory.
Can you elaborate on how the communications of the emergency services (TETRAIB) work?
IBETEC manages the digital mobile communications network for the Balearic Islands’ security and emergency services (tetraIB), such as local police, fire, ambulances, etc.
With this network they have managed to unify, centralize and coordinate the mobile communications of the local and autonomous administrations, in accordance with the Balearic Islands Emergency Management Law. In this way, the interoperability of the intervention units that are mobilized in case of emergency between the different public administrations of the Autonomous Community of the Balearic Islands is facilitated.
The main advantages of the network are:
– Zero cost for users
– Large coverage area
– Great communication quality
– Voice recording
– Real-time geo-positioning
– Interactive fleet management
Can you elaborate on how the communications of Digital TV extension services work?
IBETEC provides the transport and broadcast service of a certain number of digital television programs by the Government of the Balearic Islands to extend the coverage of the Digital TV (DTV) service in the geographic area designated as zone 2 of the Balearic Islands. Since 2009, this extension of coverage has been carried out through broadcast equipment installed in telecommunications centers under its management or that of third parties, making use of terrestrial technology identical to that used by DTT radio broadcasters in the geographical area known as Zone 1.
What projects do you have for the future?
We have large future projects, such as the start-up of a laboratory where public administrations can see the different projects tested on the IoTIB network and which can also be used for companies to validate the integration of their devices within it. The “launch” of an external protection complement is also planned for people who are at risk. It is a geolocation tool that uses the IoTIB network as a communications network and that aims to streamline the relevant action protocols.
In addition, collaborations will be made with various entities to provide the territory of the Islands with various services that will be useful in the field of emergencies.
Is there a book or movie that illustrates your work or that has inspired you lately?
The book “Bones pràctiques i consideracions pel desplegament d’estacions de mesura mitjançant la plataforma IoTIB“.