Posti pilots NB-IoT-based smart letterbox

The postal and logistic services operator Posti in cooperation with Telia is developing a smart letterbox which is the first of its kind in the world to utilise the new NB-IoT technology.

The smart letterbox can, for example, report when it should be emptied, said a press release.

“With a billion addressed mail items each year, this information conserves the environment and saves costs. For instance, if the time needed to process each item sent via Posti would take just a second longer than today, annual expenses would increase by 13 million euros. If we are able to save even 30 seconds of working time on unnecessary letterbox visits, the total benefit is significant,” said Posti Chief Process Officer Sami Reponen.

NB-IoT is an international network technology that can be used to affordably connect a large number of devices. The smart letterbox provides information in real time on its use and possible vandalism.

In the three-month pilot project, Posti and Telia will boost the intelligence of five letterboxes in Helsinki and Oulu. If the trial is successful, the next goal is to turn all 5,000 boxes nationwide into smart letterboxes.

“We installed the first sensor just before Christmas, and the results have been promising. Posti’s test group is also able to continuously monitor the use of the letterboxes with mobile phones,” explained Mikael Sundholm, the project coordinator at Telia.