# Designing IoT Solutions for Hard-to-Connect Places

- Show: [Over the Air](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air)
- Published: 2021-07-20
- Length: 36m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-07-20-designing-iot-solutions-for-hard-to-connect-places
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/over-the-air/episodes/Designing-IoT-Solutions-for-Hard-to-Connect-Places-e2l43rd

## Summary

Jit Bhattacharya, Principal at Factor(e) Ventures and former CTO of Phoenix, discusses engineering IoT solutions for off-grid energy systems in rural Africa. He details three core challenges: unreliable connectivity requiring manual backup codes, low bandwidth necessitating data compression on 32-bit microcontrollers, and limited power availability demanding extreme efficiency for GSM modems. Bhattacharya also highlights the critical role of lithium-ion batteries in reducing maintenance for remote telecom towers and the importance of data pipelines for industry buy-in.

## Chapters

- [0:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-07-20-designing-iot-solutions-for-hard-to-connect-places#t=56) Introduction: Jit Bhattacharya and Factor(e) Ventures
- [1:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-07-20-designing-iot-solutions-for-hard-to-connect-places#t=98) Background: From Mission Motors to Energy Poverty in Africa
- [5:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-07-20-designing-iot-solutions-for-hard-to-connect-places#t=308) Three Challenges: Unreliable Connectivity, Low Bandwidth, and Power
- [11:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-07-20-designing-iot-solutions-for-hard-to-connect-places#t=708) Solutions: Manual Codes, Bluetooth, and Data Compression
- [14:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-07-20-designing-iot-solutions-for-hard-to-connect-places#t=875) Silver Linings: Cellular Expansion and Customer Adaptability
- [17:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-07-20-designing-iot-solutions-for-hard-to-connect-places#t=1072) Battery Tech: Lithium-Ion for Remote Telecom Towers
- [21:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-07-20-designing-iot-solutions-for-hard-to-connect-places#t=1265) The Importance of Data for Industry Buy-In
- [24:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-07-20-designing-iot-solutions-for-hard-to-connect-places#t=1450) Lessons from Mission Motors and Product Management
- [29:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2021-07-20-designing-iot-solutions-for-hard-to-connect-places#t=1787) Electric Mobility: Battery Swapping in East Africa

## Topics

- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Factor(e) Ventures (company)
- Phoenix (company)
- Mission Motors (company)
- Ampersand (company)
- Project Better Place (company)
- lithium-ion batteries (other)
- GSM modems (other)
- mobile money (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Opportunities and Challenges of Low Bandwidth IoT | 1NCE GmbH's Arne Assmann](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-04-26-opportunities-and-challenges-of-low-bandwidth-iot-1nce-gmbhs-arne-assmann) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Global 5G Coverage with IoT | Eridan's Doug Kirkpatrick | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2023-05-16-global-5g-coverage-with-iot-eridans-doug-kirkpatrick-internet-of-things-podcast) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Connecting the Internet of Things | #IoTExplained E009](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2019-02-11-connecting-the-internet-of-things-iotexplained-e009) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Crowdsourcing Reliable IoT Connectivity | Teragence's Christian Rouffaert | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2025-05-20-crowdsourcing-reliable-iot-connectivity-teragences-christian-rouffaert-internet) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Why IoT Is Difficult with Jonathan Beri](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-01-18-why-iot-is-difficult-with-jonathan-beri) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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