Internet of Things (IoT) providers Ingenu and Sigfox announced that they have expanded their IoT networks into more metropolitan cities in the U.S.

SigFox met its year-end goal of deploying its network in 100 markets in the U.S., including Houston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Atlanta.

The company says that its IoT network now covers 20 percent of the U.S. population. Last month the company raised $159 million in funding intended to help with the network expansion.

Sigfox is working with partners in areas like logistics, asset management, and agriculture. The IoT provider also is currently piloting an IoT deployment with an unnamed, national franchise restaurant.

Sigfox plans to continue to expand next year into metropolitan areas including Seattle, Philadelphia, and the Baltimore-Washington beltway, with a goal of reaching 40 percent of the U.S. population.

Competitor Ingenu surpassed its goal. The company hoped to have its IoT network in 30 metro markets by year-end and was able to reach 32 markets, most of which are in Texas, Florida, and California.

However, the company did say that it ran into some permit problems along with way, which isn't too uncommon.

“There are a lot of permits required to install network infrastructure, from construction zoning, and even regulations that restrict the timeframes that construction can be completed because of the migratory patterns of birds,” says an Ingenu spokesperson. “The other factor is that we want to make sure that when we announce a market we have deep and reliable coverage…In some cases we go back and densify areas where coverage may not be as strong as we would like.”

Ingenu did deploy its network in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, which is a key market for the company. The company said its network reaches more than 2,22o square miles in the city.

Ingenu hopes to have its network in more than 100 major metropolitan areas by the end of 2017.