Sigfox is an LPWAN technology that uses ultra-narrowband transmission in license-free ISM bands. Each uplink is a few bytes sent three times on slightly different frequencies, and downlinks are rare and limited. Unlike LoRaWAN, where anyone can deploy gateways, Sigfox was built as a single global network operated by the company and its country partners, with devices paying a subscription.
The simplicity of the radio keeps device cost and power very low, and the global network model means a tracker can roam between countries without configuration. The limits are severe: a daily cap on messages, a tiny payload and almost no downlink, so it suits alarms, meter reads and location pings rather than anything interactive. The company’s ownership changed after financial difficulty, which has made some buyers cautious about long-term commitments.
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