Amazon creates its own competitor for IoT networks of providers

Amazon is going to create a network of IoT devices on the 900Mhz band. This network called Sidewalk can then be used by customers to locate devices. The first of these will be a dog tracker. Amazon is going to compete with providers with this.

Amazon Ring Fetch

Because the 900MHz band has a relatively good range, a relatively low number of devices is enough to cover an area. IoT devices can then distribute small amounts of data over the network. Examples are rain gauges and sensors in letterboxes to let owners know that there is mail when they are not at home.

The first product that Amazon has come up with is the Ring Fetch, a tracker for pets that gives a signal when the animal moves outside a predetermined area. That product will be released next year, Amazon announced at its own event.

With Sidewalk, the protocol of which Amazon is releasing this week, Amazon will compete with many providers. Mobile carriers now have networks based on nb-iot, lora, and lte-m, among others, that serve the same purpose as Amazon Sidewalk. Amazon has not spoken of a release outside the United States. In the Benelux, Amazon would not be able to use the 900MHz band, because it is not open for free use.