touch, the leading mobile telecommunications and data operator in Lebanon, managed by Zain Group, has announced a partnership with IOTree, Lebanon’s first wireless network of smart traps for harmful pests, at the Agri-Food Innovation Day held at New Biel on February 5.
IOTree is a smart wireless network of smart traps that are developed using a deep learning algorithm and machine vision designed for the early detection, classification, and counting of different types of harmful pests. Farmers can benefit from the IOTree app by receiving real-time reports and updates on the best agricultural practices to deal with pest invasions. IOTree will be the first organization in Lebanon to deploy Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), in partnership with touch. In its first trial project, IOTree will connect twenty smart traps to base stations located in Der Tamich (Awkar) and Rabweh utilizing NB-IoT technology.
Commenting on the partnership, touch Chief Commercial Officer, Nadim Khater said, “Today, connectivity and technological innovation play a pivotal role in developing the agriculture industry. touch is providing leading edge connectivity to IOTree’s sensors delivering reliability, scale, and very long battery life using the powerful 3GPP NB-IoT standard. We are very proud of this relevant IoT use case debut”.
IOTree Chief Executive Officer Nisrine El Turkey added that “The agricultural sector has been through dark ages for a while, farmers have been intimidated and terrified by the pest invasion happening due to climate changes. However, with IOTree, the time has come for a revolution and to connect farmers and trees back to life. IOTree will be basing its entire infrastructure and connectivity on touch's NB-IoT technology. Thus, helping farmers apply the right agricultural practices, reviving the agri-food sector and giving trees a voice.”
During the agri-food innovation day event, touch also granted the startup company IOTree a golden pass to join touch’s innovation program (TIP) cycle 3 that starts in April 2019. TIP is touch’s innovation program that on-boards 6 startups every 6 months for acceleration in a telecom environment. As part of the program, touch will be assigning IOTree mentors and conducting workshops to ensure performance and continuity of this partnership.
