IoT Giants 1NCE and Netmore Forge Alliance to Unify Global Networks

COLOGNE, Germany & STOCKHOLM, Sweden – March 11, 2026 – In a significant move set to reshape the landscape of the Internet of Things (IoT), connectivity platform 1NCE and network operator Netmore have announced a strategic collaboration, combining their respective strengths in cellular and LoRaWAN technology. The partnership introduces a unified solution designed to eliminate long-standing barriers to massive IoT deployment, offering customers a single platform to manage devices across both network types.

The collaboration materializes through the new Netmore LoRaWAN Network Server (LNS) Plugin, now available on the 1NCE platform. This integration grants 1NCE’s global customer base direct access to Netmore's expansive LoRaWAN network, effectively creating a one-stop shop for the two most dominant low-power, wide-area (LPWAN) technologies. This move is poised to accelerate the adoption of IoT in sectors like smart cities, logistics, and utilities by simplifying what has historically been a fragmented and complex connectivity ecosystem.

A New Blueprint for Global IoT Connectivity

For years, IoT developers and enterprises have faced a critical choice: deploy on cellular networks like LTE-M and NB-IoT for their ubiquitous coverage and reliability, or opt for LoRaWAN for its exceptional low-power consumption and deep indoor penetration capabilities. Each choice came with trade-offs, often forcing companies to juggle multiple vendors, platforms, and contracts to cover all their use cases. This partnership aims to dissolve that dilemma.

“Cellular plus LoRaWAN is an unbeatable package that delivers the best value in IoT,” said Ivo Rook, Co-Chief Executive Officer of 1NCE, in the original announcement. The integration allows for seamless management of both technologies through a single software tool, a powerful proposition for companies deploying diverse sensor networks. A logistics firm, for example, can now use a single 1NCE SIM to manage cellular-connected trackers on moving vehicles and LoRaWAN-connected sensors on static pallets within a warehouse basement, all visible on one dashboard.

The technical core of the alliance is the plugin, which bridges 1NCE's cloud-based software platform with Netmore's extensive network infrastructure. This provides a crucial layer of redundancy. If a device in a challenging location, such as an underground utility vault, cannot connect to a cellular network, it can fall back on the LoRaWAN connection, ensuring data transmission is not interrupted. This hybrid approach promises to eliminate coverage gaps that have plagued many large-scale IoT projects.

Forging a Market Leader in Massive IoT

The collaboration is more than a technical integration; it's a strategic consolidation of power between two titans of the massive IoT world. 1NCE has established itself as a disruptive force with its software-defined network and groundbreaking "IoT Lifetime Flat" pricing model, attracting over 24,000 customers and managing more than 30 million devices across 170 countries. Backed by industry heavyweights like Deutsche Telekom and SoftBank, its claim of setting a "new industry standard" carries significant weight.

Simultaneously, Netmore has aggressively expanded to become what it calls the "world's largest LoRaWAN network and platform provider." Through a series of strategic acquisitions, including US-based Senet, global platform provider Actility, and network operator Everynet, Netmore has amassed a network spanning over 100 countries with millions of connected devices. Supported by Nordic infrastructure investor Polar Structure, Netmore has become a dominant force in the LoRaWAN space, particularly in Europe.

By joining forces, the two specialists create a formidable offering that few competitors can match. While major telecommunication companies like Vodafone and Telefónica lead in managed cellular IoT, they lack the native, deeply integrated LoRaWAN component. This partnership directly challenges the cellular-only approach, especially as market forecasts from firms like Omdia predict that LPWAN and LoRaWAN technologies could serve up to 90% of the market by 2028.

Powering the Next Wave of Smart Infrastructure

The true impact of this alliance will be felt in the field, across industries poised for massive IoT adoption. The target verticals—smart cities, logistics, and utilities—are precisely those that require diverse, reliable, and low-power connectivity at a massive scale.

In smart cities, the combined solution can support a wide array of applications. Municipalities can deploy cellular-connected traffic sensors for real-time data while using LoRaWAN for low-data, battery-powered devices like smart waste bins and environmental monitors. Netmore's deep expertise in street lighting and smart city solutions, bolstered by its acquisition of Actility, complements 1NCE's existing portfolio in this sector.

For utilities, the benefits are even more pronounced. Netmore is a leading operator for smart metering, highlighted by its major contract to deploy 1.3 million LoRaWAN-enabled water meters for Yorkshire Water in the UK. Combining this with 1NCE's cellular reach ensures that every meter, whether in a dense urban apartment building or a remote rural farmhouse, can be reliably connected and read, improving efficiency and reducing costs.

“By combining our market-leading LoRaWAN services with 1NCE’s cellular platform, customers can now eliminate coverage gaps, reduce complexity, and deploy low-bandwidth solutions with unprecedented reliability across the world,” stated Ove Anebygd, Chief Executive Officer of Netmore Group.

In logistics and asset tracking, the hybrid model offers unparalleled flexibility. High-value assets in transit can be tracked globally using cellular connectivity, while LoRaWAN provides cost-effective monitoring for pallets, containers, and equipment within geofenced areas like ports, warehouses, and distribution centers. This comprehensive visibility is crucial for optimizing modern supply chains.

The Economics of Simplified Deployment

Beyond the technology, the business model behind this partnership is set to lower the barrier to entry for countless IoT projects. 1NCE's reputation was built on its radical pricing simplicity: a single, upfront payment for the entire lifetime of a device. This "IoT Lifetime Flat" model removed the fear of complex, recurring data charges and allowed businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, to budget for IoT with confidence.

While the exact pricing structure for the new hybrid service has not been detailed, the philosophy of simplification is expected to continue. By offering a single point of contact, a unified software platform, and potentially a more predictable cost structure for both cellular and LoRaWAN, the partnership makes large-scale, multi-technology IoT deployments commercially viable for a much broader audience.

This strategic alignment of technology, market reach, and business model innovation positions the 1NCE-Netmore alliance as a pivotal development. It directly addresses the market's need for less fragmentation and more synergy, creating a powerful, integrated engine designed to drive the next phase of global IoT expansion.