Edinburgh Tech Gets £6M Boost for Underwater Wireless Communication

In the rapidly evolving landscape of wireless technology, a pivotal leap is now underway beneath the waves and layers of our planet. Edinburgh’s very own CSignum has marked a new era for underwater wireless communication with a groundbreaking £6 million investment, promising to revolutionize how we transmit critical data in submerged and underground environments. This advancement is not only transforming the way we connect with remote subsea and subterranean locations, but also accelerating the global growth of integrated IoT solutions—a journey we at Farmonaut keenly relate to.

Our world’s ecosystems, industries, and operations depend more than ever on real-time environmental monitoring, efficient resource management, and secure, reliable data flows from environments previously considered unreachable. With this context, let’s dive deep into how Edinburgh’s tech breakthrough is paving the future of submerged sensor networks and what it means for the broader landscape of innovation, business, and sustainable development.

Breakthrough Investment: £6 Million Series A Funding in Edinburgh

At the heart of Scotland’s growing tech ecosystem, CSignum’s successful £6M Series A round, led by Archangels, Par Equity, and Scottish Enterprise, brings renewed focus to wireless IoT solutions extending communication far beyond conventional limits. This investment round also received support from British Business Investment (BBI), Raptor Group, Deep Future, SeaAhead’s Blue Angel Network, and several notable US investors, allowing the company to expand its global presence and develop leading-edge products that address the surging global demand for reliable, real-time data transmission in underwater and underground environments.

What sets this round apart? Electromagnetic field signalling (EMFS)—a highly innovative approach to data transmission through not only water, but also ice, soil, rock, and concrete. No other wireless method has successfully achieved this level of multi-environment capability. For the expanding scope of the IoT market, regulatory compliance mandates, and industrial operations, CSignum’s technology is a true breakthrough.

The funding will primarily be channeled towards:

• Expanding the engineering team for faster R&D and product iteration
• Advancing the EM-2 product family to address diverse application scenarios
• Strengthening market presence in the UK, EU, US, and beyond
• Meeting deadlines for environmental regulatory compliance—such as real-time monitoring mandates under the UK’s AMP8 initiatives

How Underwater Wireless Communication is Reshaping IoT

In an interconnected world, the ability to transmit data wirelessly from submerged environments is transforming not only marine science and industrial processes but also critical infrastructure management and environmental monitoring. With underwater wireless communication, we are entering an age where reliable, real-time data from beneath the surface is readily available to inform decisions, trigger alerts, and optimize operations across the globe.

The Limitations of Traditional Underwater Communication Methods

• Wired Sensors: While robust, these require extensive and costly cabling. Maintenance is difficult, especially for remote or deep-sea locations, and expansion is time-consuming.
• Acoustic Modems: Common for underwater telemetry but hindered by low bandwidth, latency, and susceptibility to environmental noise or physical obstacles.
• Limited Real-Time Monitoring: Both traditional methods present severe challenges for providing continuous, real-time data transmission under changing conditions.

Enter wireless IoT solutions powered by EMFS—a technology set to redefine underwater, underground, and even sub-ice data connectivity for the next era of the IoT.

Meet CSignum: The Leader Driving Underwater Wireless Innovation

Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Bathgate, near Edinburgh, CSignum has quickly emerged as the forefront provider and leader of wireless communication technology designed to bridge the gap between submerged sensor networks and terrestrial infrastructure.

Vision and Leadership

With Jonathan Reeves as CEO, a skilled team, and key backing from major equity investors, CSignum is on a mission to expand wireless data transmission capabilities—across water, ice, soil, rock, and concrete. This enables not just improved scientific observation but also boosts **security, environmental compliance, and cost-efficiency** for industries like utilities, maritime, offshore wind turbines, oil & gas platforms, and more.

The company’s cloud-based analytics and dashboard—the CSignum Cloud—complement hardware deployments by translating raw data into actionable insights, with successful projects already supporting river water quality monitoring and broader infrastructure management.

Inside the EM-2: Technology, Applications, and Market Impact

Electromagnetic Field Signalling (EMFS): A Breakthrough in Underwater Wireless Communication

CSignum’s EM-2 family stands out for its use of electromagnetic field signalling (EMFS)—a patented breakthrough method that is capable of wirelessly transmitting sensor data via electromagnetic fields through mediums such as water, ice, soil, rock, and concrete. Unlike acoustic or optical communications, EMFS is less affected by noise and obstruction, unlocking a new era for reliable underwater data transmission technology.

• Key Applications:
• Water Quality & Environmental Monitoring: Real-time, remote assessment of water health, pollution, and resource management for compliance and regulatory requirements.
• Wireless Under-Ship Monitoring: Vital for maritime operations, enabling fleet management and maintenance without cables or divers.
• Security & Infrastructure Monitoring: For safeguarding critical assets such as offshore wind turbines, oil & gas platforms, and underwater cables.
• Large-Scale Monitoring for Compliance: Supporting industries to meet new regulatory deadlines and mandates—like the UK’s AMP8 initiatives demanding real-time monitoring and compliance.

When we talk about transmission capability, EM-2 is uniquely:

• Reliable: Consistent and robust communication even in hostile or noisy environments
• Flexible: Works across water, ice, soil, rock, and concrete—no other method provides this range
• Real-Time: Built for today’s on-demand world, enabling live alerts and rapid response
• Low-Maintenance & Cost-Efficient: Minimizes physical infrastructure, lowering costs and reducing installation time

Comparative Table: Traditional vs CSignum Underwater Data Transmission

To better understand the market impact of CSignum’s innovation, we’ve compiled a comparative table which benchmarks traditional underwater data transmission methods against EMFS-powered wireless solutions.

*Values shown are industry estimates; actual range/data may vary depending on environmental and deployment conditions.

The Future: Global IoT Market Growth and Real-Time Environmental Monitoring

The underwater communications market is set to double in value—from $5.1B in 2024 to $10.2B by 2032. This surge highlights the growing importance of critical data transmission for industries facing stringent regulatory requirements, environmental compliance mandates, and ongoing industrial digitalization.

By leveraging wireless IoT solutions such as those from CSignum, industries and governments can:

• Continuously track and improve water quality in rivers, lakes, and oceans
• Monitor offshore infrastructure integrity for wind turbines, gas and oil platforms—reducing risks and cutting operational costs
• Enable large-scale, real-time environmental monitoring required by new policy mandates
• Facilitate smarter urban water network management & disaster-prevention efforts

With the global IoT market growth, the need for innovative monitoring systems that secure, transmit, and analyze data from submerged or hard-to-reach areas is greater than ever. The UK, EU, and US are leading the wave, creating massive opportunities—and responsibilities—for those who pioneer the future of submerged sensor networks.

Expanding Opportunities for Investors, Industries, and Innovators

This surge in demand isn’t just a matter of technological progress—it brings major investment opportunities for equity holders, venture capitalists, and strategic investors. The ability to transmit reliable data via wireless means—from environments like underwater, underground, or beneath concrete, ice, and soil—is now a critical competitive differentiator.

With CSignum’s expansion plans in Edinburgh, Scotland, and new staff in the UK, USA, and EU, we anticipate the rapid creation of high-tech jobs and a fresh wave of R&D in Edinburgh’s growing digital cluster. As a fellow provider of data-driven, cloud-based environmental solutions, we at Farmonaut see immense synergies and lessons for both the underwater wireless sector and the broader global IoT ecosystem.

Satellite Data & Cloud-IoT in Agriculture: Farmonaut’s Vision

While CSignum is pioneering underwater wireless communication for submerged environments, at Farmonaut, we focus on bringing similar innovation, data intelligence, and real-time monitoring to global agriculture. Our mission is to democratize and streamline precision farming through satellite-based farm management solutions, AI, and cloud analytics.

Farmonaut bridges the gap between cutting-edge technology and real-world farming with services aimed at making precision, sustainability, and efficient resource management universally accessible.

Advanced Technologies Powering Modern Agriculture:

• Satellite-Based Crop Health Monitoring: Our platform combines multispectral satellite images to deliver real-time insights on NDVI, crop stress, soil moisture, and field variability, guiding precise irrigation and fertilization decisions.
• Jeevn AI Advisory System: Powered by AI, Jeevn delivers actionable advice and weather forecasts tailored to a farmer’s land and crops.
• Blockchain Product Traceability: Secure, transparent tracking from farm to market ensures compliance, builds consumer trust, and mitigates fraud risks.
• Fleet & Resource Management: Optimize equipment usage and reduce operational overhead with our fleet management tools.
• Carbon Footprinting: Monitor, quantify, and reduce your farm’s climate impact with our carbon footprinting product.
• Crop Loan & Insurance Verification: Satellite-based validation protects against fraud and improves access to agricultural financing.

Our API and developer documentation empower businesses to embed real-time satellite and agronomic data into their platforms, amplifying innovation across the agricultural sector.

Available on Android, iOS, Web, and via browser interface, Farmonaut is designed for every scale of agriculture—from smallholder farms to large agribusinesses and government programs.

Why Choose Farmonaut?

• Cost-Effectiveness: Precision farming without expensive equipment.
• Empowering Decision-Making: Actionable intelligence at your fingertips, maximizing productivity while reducing waste.
• Sustainability: Carbon footprint tracking, environmental compliance solutions, and advanced advisories for climate-friendly operations.
• Transparency: Traceability from farm to fork enhances consumer trust and regulatory adherence.
• Access to Financing: Our crop loan and insurance solutions use real-time satellite verification to simplify approvals and minimize risk for both parties.
• Scale: From small farms to regional authorities, Farmonaut’s modular services grow with your agriculture operations.

For advanced plantation, forest, and agro-advisory needs, our Crop Plantation & Forest Advisory Platform delivers powerful analytics and recommendations—enabling smarter, more sustainable stewardship of natural resources.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion: Transforming Submerged Data Communication for a Connected Tomorrow

The £6M investment in Edinburgh’s CSignum is more than headline news—it signals a worldwide shift towards wireless, real-time, and cost-effective critical data transmission beneath the surface. With advances in underwater wireless communication, industries, governments, and technology innovators are now poised to address environmental sustainability, infrastructure security, and IoT demands in ways never before possible.

As we reflect on the strides made underwater, we also reaffirm at Farmonaut our dedication to making cutting-edge monitoring systems accessible above ground—empowering agriculture and sustainability through affordable, high-precision technologies. Together, these parallel advances define a new era of global connectivity, data-driven operations, and resilient environmental stewardship.