How Mediactive Connect deploys Smart Building IoT networks in Westfield shopping centers with Kerlink gateways
Mediactive Connect, a subsidiary of the Mediactive Group specializing in the management of private networks, supports many commercial and industrial players in their transition to Smart Building solutions.
As part of this effort, the company collaborates with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, a global leader in commercial real estate, to deploy IoT networks across several of its shopping centers in Europe.
To ensure reliable connectivity, Mediactive Connect selected Kerlink gateways, recognized for their robustness, reliability, and ease of deployment.
LoRaWAN networks connecting Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield’s buildings
The main challenge was to deploy high-performing and cost-efficient networks in shopping centers of very different sizes and configurations, with the goal of covering as many use cases as possible.
The first LoRaWAN network was deployed in 2020 at the Confluence shopping center in Lyon, validating the choice of this technology.
LoRaWAN quickly proved to be the right choice thanks to its fast deployment, wide radio coverage, and interoperability with existing systems. This compatibility made it possible to integrate with Modbus networks already in place, avoiding the replacement of technical equipment and the heavy works often required in complex environments.
Since then, around twenty Westfield shopping centers across Europe have been equipped with private LoRaWAN networks that collect and leverage the data essential to improving building performance.
Robust, industrial-grade connectivity with the Kerlink Wirnet iStation
To guarantee reliable connectivity across large and complex commercial environments, Mediactive Connect deployed more than 160 Kerlink Wirnet iStation gateways through Sphinx, the official distributor of Kerlink solutions.
The Kerlink Wirnet iStation was chosen for its proven hardware reliability and industrial-grade IP67 design, perfectly suited to the technical and environmental constraints of shopping centers. It ensures stable, homogeneous radio coverage across all equipped sites, maintaining service continuity and network quality.
Mediactive Connect also relies on Kerlink’s Wanesy Management Cockpit to remotely update the entire fleet of gateways.
“Kerlink gateways enable us to easily and quickly deploy reliable LoRaWAN networks. Their ease of implementation, robustness, and performance support the efficiency of our IoT solutions,” said Guillaume Marsay, Chief Technology & Product Officer at Mediactive Connect.
Tangible benefits for shopping centers
The deployment of LoRaWAN networks by Mediactive Connect paves the way for numerous use cases directly linked to the operational and energy performance of shopping centers.
Among the main benefits are accurate energy monitoring through submetering of each store’s consumption, early leak detection, and the deployment of environmental sensors measuring temperature, humidity, or CO₂ levels to optimize comfort and indoor air quality.
These new services integrate seamlessly into existing building management systems, allowing Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield to fully leverage IoT data to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of its properties.
Download the full use case
How did Mediactive Connect support Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield in deploying its LoRaWAN IoT networks?
What role did Kerlink gateways play in the success of these deployments?
Download the full use case here