TechPLEX, a producer of mobile communications modules, announced Monday that its next-generation narrowband IoT project will soon enter full-scale operation.

“Through this project, we will significantly reduce the data use of numerous IoT devices operating over broadband networks,” CEO Yoon Byeong-ho said.

“We are moving ahead with the implementation of this project as quickly as possible, as it is highly likely this market will become very active by the second half of next year.”

TechPLEX develops and produces LTE-based communication modules for IoT applications that use significantly less data than other similar modules, giving the company a competitive edge in the industry.

In locations with no Wi-Fi, an IoT device equipped with one of these modules can be operated for approximately 1,000 won per month in data fees.

The company’s main project at the moment is attaching these communication modules to meter-reading devices and having the relevant data transmitted to the maintenance company.

The modules can also be attached to various types of vehicles, such as bicycles, to track them in the event they are lost. They can also be installed in vending machines to serve an internal CPU (central processing unit) that provides real-time information on the machine’s inventory.

The modules will soon be available for use in cars, agricultural greenhouses, cold-storage warehouses, and forest fire detection systems.

For use in cars, in particular, the modules will need to be designed to withstand harsh conditions such as high temperatures and complex electrical systems.

In addition, TechPLEX is looking into entering the home IoT sector through a partnership with a communications company.

Designated as an incubation company in April by the Gyeonggi Center for Creative Economy & Innovation, TechPLEX established its office in the “Start-Up Campus” located in Pangyo and is currently involved in a project with KT.

“Our ultimate goal is to reduce the data fees that our customers must pay to operate IoT devices,” Yoon said.

“In addition to our partnerships with domestic companies, we plan to actively engage in business activities with foreign communications companies.”

(jshwang@heraldcorp.com)