ZEKAT GROUP WITHDRAWALS ITS TAKEOVER OFFER FOR SIGFOX
Friday, April 1, ZeKat Group, a French industrial group specializing in high technologies, withdrew its offer to take over the assets of the company SIGFOX, in receivership since last January.
After more than a month of studies and analyses, given the multiple projects to be carried out to turn Sigfox around, the desire of customers to no longer depend on a proprietary network, the proliferation of connectivity offers, in a in an uncertain global economic context fraught with unprecedented risks (war in Ukraine, supply crisis for semiconductors, inflation), Groupe ZeKat has decided to withdraw its offer.
However, the ZeKat Group (200 people, €23 million in turnover) was very well placed to take over Sigfox with a view to its recovery, backed by its network technologies, its specific IoT software components, its vertical business solutions supported by specific objects and open development platforms, its industrial tools and its financial strength.
AN IOT MARKET UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The analyzes have enabled Groupe ZeKat to understand in depth the issues related to the deployment of massive IoT solutions, both in terms of specialized telecommunications networks and major trends in the market of connected objects and solutions in which Groupe ZeKat operates. through its Digital Pole.
The standardization of 5G IoT networks (LTE-M and NB-IoT), the arrival of new generations of IoT connections such as satellite IoT technologies (Kineis for example), BLE 5.0, Wi-Fi 6 or Zeta or Mioty will change the future of the IoT with a massive production of connected objects equipped with multi-connectivity.
ZEKAT GROUP: A LEADER IN IOT IN EUROPE
Sigfox has developed unique technology and know-how in the operation of interconnected networks.
However, ZeKat Group as a major player in IoT solutions has preferred to maintain its technological independence with regard to networks to continue to offer connected solutions that can be operated on all networks.
It is in this respect that Groupe ZeKat natively integrates multi-connectivity, as evidenced by the patents filed in the use of complementary radio communication technologies, whether to combine 5G IoT with LPWAN or to dynamically switch between several LPWAN networks (private or public LoRa and Sigfox for example).
Already very involved in logistics and agriculture, Groupe Zekat intends to pursue its digital strategy by aiming for European leadership in the IoT market by continuing its technological efforts and by addressing other markets such as industry and smart building. .
Thus, Groupe ZeKat will continue to deploy its architectures by adapting IoT technologies to provide the expected services to the use cases and the collection of associated data in partnership with our integrator and user customers.
Also, ZeKat Group remains attentive to other external growth opportunities while maintaining its strong organic growth.
ZEKAT GROUP ALONGSIDE SIGFOX AND ITS FUTURE BUYER
We wanted to inform SIGFOX, its CSE and its management, as well as the many contacts we made during this period, in particular customers, of our withdrawal.
We have forged strong ties with SIGFOX and its ecosystem and will remain alongside the buyer who will ultimately be chosen by the Commercial Court of Toulouse to offer him our technologies and know-how that can help him turn this company around. unique technology.
We wish them the best and hope for a strong recovery for everyone.