The French IoT start-up Sigfox filed for bankruptcy earlier this year after failing to raise new capital. MEF IoT Project Director Nassia Skoulikariti examines how the situation arose and what the future looks like for the company and the wider ecosystem.

Sigfox was founded in 2010 by Ludovic Le Moan and Michel Combes and is headquartered in Toulouse. The company became one of the most familiar names for LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) using alternatives band to the mobile operators. Sigfox turned the unlicensed ISM band (a non-telecom band used for Industrial, Scientific, and Medical purposes) into an IoT wide reach network thanks to the use of phase-shifting-key. Sigfox claims coverage in 75 countries via local partners, covering 6 million Km² and 1.4 billion of people.

The company said it is looking for a buyer to take over its operations.

Why did Sigfox file for bankruptcy?

Sigfox cited “significant financial challenges” as the primary reason for the filing. Sigfox struggled to find a buyer or secure funding to continue operations. In its latest financial year figures, the company posted a net loss of nearly €91 million on revenues of just over €24 million and financial debts of €118 million.

  But it’s unlikely this would have made a difference: the writing was on the wall for Sigfox even before the pandemic. Analysts and those keeping an eye on Sigfox highlighted that they were not hitting its network subscriber targets.“

The trouble Sigfox has run into is further highlighted due to the ongoing supply chain disruption caused by Covid-19. However, even before the pandemic, Sigfox had been having trouble.

And it’s not hard to see why.

• The company’s finances were not in a good place, and it had been running for at least two years without any profit. These massive losses meant that the company needed to spend money on developing its infrastructure,
• To save money, the company had to lay off a third of its staff late last year.
• Loss of key executives
• The company’s failure to launch its protocol in the US and subsequent inability to convince mobile network operators (MNOs) to adopt it added to its downfall.
• Initially, Sigfox was set up to address the connectivity market and offer a low-cost alternative to cellular. However, cellular connectivity costs have been reduced, which has made it less appealing for customers to use Sigfox.
• Added pressure from competition has been a critical factor as well. In particular, the increased popularity of LoRaWAN, a competing, open technology supported by a non-profit association.

Last year the company announced plans to pivot and develop a new business model focusing on a couple of verticals such as logistics to help companies track assets instead of running a very costly communications network.

But it’s unlikely this would have made a difference: the writing was on the wall for Sigfox even before the pandemic. Analysts and those keeping an eye on Sigfox highlighted that they were not hitting its network subscriber targets.