Chirp delivers powerful telecommunications connectivity for decentralized physical infrastructure networks on peaq

peaq, the layer-1 blockchain for DePIN and machine RWAs, announces the expansion of its ecosystem as telecommunications provider Chirp Network joins to provide decentralized connectivity for smart devices.

Chirp is building a unified, multi-protocol decentralized connectivity network that will enable the exchange of data over any supported protocol and from any distance. The network includes Chirp’s “Blackbird” gateway devices, already spread across 33 countries. These gateways provide connectivity for other IoT hardware across a variety of channels, including LoRaWAN, LoRa 2.4 gHz, BLE, and more.

Powered by Chirp’s LTE networks, Blackbirds can connect devices anywhere in the world, enabling entire networks and fleets to exchange data on a borderless backbone seamlessly. Chirp is joining peaq to grant DePINs a reliable and versatile way to connect smart devices to global networks over any major Internet of Things (IoT) protocol.

XMAQUINA, the project behind the world’s first fully autonomous tokenized robot cafe, will be the first DePIN in the peaq ecosystem to tap Chirp Network as its connectivity layer. XMAQUINA’s tokenized robotic barista, recently unveiled at the TOKEN2049 conference in Dubai, uses Chirp to link with peaq, exchanging data with the blockchain via Chirp’s IoT connectivity layer, which enables it to operate autonomously.

Chirp will also be providing connectivity for ELOOP, a project enabling tokenized investment in DePINs, via the peaq network, as well as Silencio — a DePIN on peaq rewarding people with crypto for collecting local noise pollution data.

Chirp’s integration with peaq creates a backbone for devices on peaq, enabling DePIN builders to tap the Chirp Network as their connectivity layer. By doing so, they can launch their dApps faster without having to worry about roaming contracts to ensure global connectivity.

As part of the integration, Chirp will create an endpoint layer for devices on peaq — a service that will enable them to communicate with the peaq blockchain — and set up an API to give builders more flexibility. It will also launch a data handling service for DePIN devices using SIM cards, such as smartphones and tablets.

Chirp will also build a peaq integration adapter – a handy tool for builders looking to customize their integration with peaq and leverage the blockchain as the data storage layer for their own DePINs.

Tim Kravchunovsky, founder of Chirp Network, says: “Reaching true decentralization is no trivial matter. Our integration with peaq will bring the DePINs building in its ecosystem one major step closer to it — ultimately resulting in a world whose infrastructure backbone is run by its users, not Big Tech. This integration boosts peaq’s position as the leading layer-1 for DePIN projects.”

“Decentralized connectivity and networking is an important function for any DePIN,” adds Till Wendler, co-founder of peaq.

“peaq’s integration with Chirp unlocks this crucial feature for all DePINs in the ecosystem, enabling devices all over the world to communicate via a people-owned network. Chirp’s agnostic approach to wireless protocols will assist DePIN builders in bringing the largest-ever number of IoT devices on-chain.”

The post Chirp Network joins peaq to provide universal connectivity for DePINs appeared first on IoT Business News.

• Eseye, a global IoT connectivity solutions provider, is leveraging Thales connectivity management expertise to enhance IoT devices with an automatic, seamless, optimal local network connection when first powered up.
• Thales Adaptive Connect (TAC) is a flexible cloud-based solution that eliminates the need for Eseye to configure a large number of IoT devices before deployment in the field. TAC is the first market-ready solution to provide such level of scalability and resilience.
• Implementing the Thales solution with Eseye’s Infinity platform provides eSIM-based devices with out-of-the-box connectivity, streamlined operations across manufacturing and logistics, while complying with security standards.

Eseye, a global IoT connectivity solutions provider, has selected Thales to accelerate and simplify worldwide IoT deployment with a seamless connectivity solution.

Thales pioneering solution enables Eseye to automatically connect IoT devices with the most appropriate profile the first time they are powered up and in-life. Thales Adaptive Connect (TAC) based on eSIM (embedded SIM) technology that drastically simplifies the management of IoT devices lifecycle. It is the first market-ready solution that eliminates the need to configure mobile subscriptions in the factory, or for technicians to visit them in the field.

Eseye provides IoT cellular connectivity services worldwide, and TAC brings connectivity management of IoT devices remotely to make it far easier for its customers to roll-out and support major projects in areas such as: smart utilities, supply chains, logistics, and automotive. Indeed, any kind of IoT device can be deployed and connected in any region or country without being configured beforehand.

TAC is remotely managing the eSIM automatic configuration to provide the best local connectivity from its first usage and throughout its lifespan on the field. With Thales, Eseye can ensure they all connect to the preferred mobile network whenever it is needed. For example, deployed IoT devices can be switched to another mobile network remotely, over-the-air, at any time. The Thales solution fully complies with GSMA eSIM IoT standard SGP.32, ensuring security, reliability, and future proof capability for massive IoT use cases.

Thanks to the Thales connectivity offer for eSIM-based devices, Eseye will be able to operate and manage flexible, end-to-end connectivity from the factory to the field, and throughout the device lifecycle. Which means the entire operation, including manufacturing, logistics, and connectivity, is streamlined and simplified.

“Eseye are delighted to be partnering with Thales to take forward this leading-edge, innovative new IoT solution. Combining SGP.32 and SGP.41 support will ensure future IoT device deployments can deliver optimum efficiency and value to our customers. Not only do Enterprise customers get a completely future proofed eSIM platform, but it also enables maximum choice of either personalising devices for local mobile networks ahead of deployment or using TAC to do this for them in the field,” said Adam Hayes, Chief Operating Officer at Eseye.

“Eseye is a dynamic partner with whom we have also worked on a Proof of Concept for customers interested in in-factory provisioning (IFPP) for their devices. This enables profiles to be securely provisioned during the device manufacturing process. For example, a blood sugar monitor device that has been configured at the factory will have a substantially longer battery life since there is no need for an in-field local profile download. This solution, which meets the latest market specifications (SGP.41), retains all of the benefits of an automatic and cost-effective connection to the preferred local network,” said Guillaume Lafaix, VP of Connectivity Solutions and Embedded Products at Thales

The post Eseye Selects Thales to Streamline IoT Deployments With Seamless Connectivity Management appeared first on IoT Business News.

• CMP market dynamics is changing as new players emerge, but concerns persist on coopting with competitors.
• The Chinese business model on IoT connectivity is different from the rest of the world and driven by significantly lower realization per IoT connection.
• Rankings cover 27 CMP players across white-label, captive and third-party players.

Cisco, Telefonica and Vodafone have emerged as ‘Pace-setters’ in the Global IoT Connectivity Management Platform (CMP) Rankings, according to the 2023 edition of Counterpoint Research’s CMP CORE (COmpetitive, Ranking, and Evaluation) report.

Commenting on the IoT CMP rankings and the competitive landscape, Associate Director Mohit Agrawal highlighted, “Connectivity is at the heart of IoT implementations, and connectivity management platforms have an important role to play. The CMP space has been under the spotlight since Aeris acquired the Ericsson IoT Accelerator in March. The emergence of dynamic, cloud-centric players like Eseye, Soracom, floLIVE and Emnify is providing serious alternatives to existing platforms for connectivity providers but concerns on using a platform from another connectivity provider persists.”

Agrawal added, “China, the world’s largest IoT market, is dominated by Huawei and Whale Cloud but both the players have limited presence outside of China. China’s IoT connectivity market continues to follow high growth at sub-$2 revenue per connection per year impacting the business model of CMP players.”

Commenting on the research findings, Senior Research Analyst Akshara Bassi said, “Cisco has a significant lead over its competitors in terms of platform capability as well as execution capability. Vodafone and Telefonica joined Cisco in the Pace-setter category of rankings, showcasing the strong in-house capabilities of these leading mobile operators. The Pace-setters have industry-leading features across all the measured parameters and can execute well in the market. Cisco leads in provisioning, orchestration, analytics, product maturity and integration with OSS/BSS while Telefonica leads in cloud integrations and ease of use. Vodafone excels in security and billing.”

Aeris, Verizon, Cubic Telecom, Whale Cloud, Wireless Logic, Kore Wireless, Emnify, Soracom and Velos have emerged as Leaders in the CMP market. These players have swiftly added features to their platforms to address new use cases, especially from Mobility. Cubic does well in analytics, particularly for the automotive industry.

floLIVE, BICS, Eseye, Onomondo, Mavoco and Pod Group have emerged as Challengers with very capable platforms but still do not have the required market presence. Bassi added, “Over time, these particular vendors are most likely to move up to the Leaders quadrant”.

Comarch, Huawei, 1NCE, Nokia and NTT Transatel are Up-starters with significant execution capabilities, but the platform lacks a few key features compared to the Leaders. Comarch and Nokia do well on integration with OSS and BSS while Huawei is the largest CMP in terms of managed connections as it powers China Mobile. 1NCE may not have some of the features compared to other CMPs but has a disruptive business model and hence its CMP does not fit the traditional feature sets.

IOTM, ConnectedYou, Pelion and 1oT round up the rankings as they find themselves in the Niche segment. Agrawal clarified, “There has been an emergence of platform aggregators, such as IOTM and ConnectedYou, focusing on ‘Bring Your Own Contract’. Platforms from these players have a different role compared to those of traditional CMPs and hence their features are not directly comparable with other CMP vendors. These players provide a single pane of glass and superior analytics, but their USP is under threat as leading CMP players are adding these functionalities to their platforms.”

The post Cisco, Telefonica and Vodafone Pacesetters for 2023 IoT Connectivity Management Platform (CMP) Ranking appeared first on IoT Business News.

floLIVE¹, Kigen², and Protahub³, have completed all necessary steps to provide local connectivity services in Turkey.

floLIVE is now offering local cellular IoT connectivity in Turkey to its global customers, via a single global SKU.

With its partner, Kigen, floLIVE has spent many months building the ecosystem and integrating the necessary systems and platforms to serve its global customers in Turkey; the companies teamed up with Protahub, the only local Turkish entity with the mandate to control local eSIM subscription profiles, to create a complete, end-to-end solution that will allow OEMs, global enterprises and mobile operators alike to obtain local IoT connectivity in Turkey via their existing eUICC compatible SIMs.

This has been a complex endeavor, as Turkey has unique requirements for local cellular connectivity, where permanent roaming is impossible and IP data must be routed locally, in-country.

“Traditionally, anyone who needed connectivity in Turkey had to approach the MNOs in-region directly and purchase SIM cards to install in their devices,” said Nir Shalom, CEO floLIVE. “They needed to engage in a separate contract with the local MNO, use separate APIs for integration, and at the end of the day they ended up with very limited management and control. With floLIVE, our customers benefit from a single SKU that simplifies their logistics and supply chain, and offers a streamlined, unified global experience. During the last few months, we’ve been approached by numerous customers – from OEMs to tier-1 mobile operators – asking for a local connectivity solution in Turkey as part of their global operations.”

The process flow in Turkey is unique, unlike standard eUICC local profile management:

• floLIVE provides its customers with a standard eUICC SIM, in all form factors.
• When a device arrives in Turkey, floLIVE’s Connectivity Management Platform (CMP) detects the device’s location and initiates a local profile download process, via Kigen’s Remote SIM Provisioning (RSP) platform.
• An SM-SR Swap process now takes place between Kigen’s SM-SR and Protahub’s SM-SR.
• Protahub initiates a Profile Download to the eSIM and validates with both platforms – Kigen’s RSP and floLIVE’s CMP.

“floLIVE and Kigen are working closely together on numerous initiatives and projects, and are looking to replicate this success in other regions so that global deployments are achievable with a single SKU and a unified experience,” said Vincent Korstanje, Kigen’s CEO.

“With an eSIM, you have a strong foundation for trusted devices across multiple geographies, while complying with the local regulations.”

The post floLIVE & Kigen team-up with Protahub to provide local IoT cellular connectivity in Turkey appeared first on IoT Business News.

SoftBank to market 1NCE’s affordable global IoT connectivity services in 19 Asia-Pacific markets.

SoftBank Corp. today announced that from October 2023 it will launch a full-fledged expansion of its global IoT business in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

In this sales expansion that spans 19 countries and regions, including Japan, SoftBank will focus on marketing IoT services, mainly the “1NCE IoT Flat Rate,” an affordable global IoT connectivity service from German company 1NCE GmbH, to enterprise customers. SoftBank aims to acquire a total 2 million 1NCE IoT Flat Rate connections in APAC and other regions within the 2025 fiscal year, which ends on March 31, 2026.

In line with its “Beyond Carrier” growth strategy, SoftBank is expanding beyond its core telecommunications business to create new businesses in a wide range of industries, and it is promoting digital transformation (DX) across different industry sectors. In the IoT business field, SoftBank took an equity stake in 1NCE GmbH in April 2022, and it signed an agreement to exclusively market the company’s 1NCE IoT Flat Rate in 19 APAC markets. The 1NCE IoT Flat Rate is available at a remarkably low price, and at no additional cost, customers can also roam on 1NCE’s global network of more than 160 countries and regions. The service’s convenience is being well received by enterprise customers, including Japan-based companies such as Pocketalk Corporation.

While SoftBank previously focused primarily on marketing the 1NCE IoT Flat Rate in Japan, it is now expanding sales into 19 countries and regions of APAC to step up the global rollout of its IoT business. Leveraging its existing locations in APAC (comprising 22 locations in 9 countries and regions), SoftBank will quadruple its IoT salesforce, launch a dedicated online IoT shop in partnership with 1NCE and strengthen advertising and other marketing initiatives in the region.

Utilizing its IoT platform, SoftBank will also propose solutions related to smart meters and work to further expand its global IoT business. SoftBank will also build a wide-ranging support framework to solve problems various industries are facing in their respective countries and regions. Starting with its global IoT business, SoftBank will take measures to expand its global business, primarily in the APAC region, and promote its “Beyond Japan” initiative.

Daichi Nozaki, Senior Vice President responsible for the global business at SoftBank Corp., commented, “We’re extremely pleased to be able to fully expand our IoT business in the APAC region.”

“While we’ve been providing IoT services primarily in Japan and contributing to the DX of various industries there, going forward we’ll collaborate with strong business partners like 1NCE and leverage our expertise gained in the Japan market to fully establish ourselves in APAC.”

“Doing this, we’ll work to contribute to the digitalization of the entire region and solve social issues.”

The post SoftBank Corp. to Expand its Global IoT Business in Asia-Pacific Region appeared first on IoT Business News.

Cellhire, a specialist in mobile communications, M2M/IoT services, and data connectivity announces a ground-breaking strategic partnership with the wholesale arm of Orange, a tier 1 operator.

Tim Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, Cellhire, welcomed the partnership: “This agreement reinforces Cellhire’s dedication to Orange Wholesale France and, more importantly, to our valued customers as we continually enhance our service offerings.”

Cellhire has a close, long-standing partnership with Orange, having worked with the company since 1997. The framework agreement enhances Cellhire’s Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) services on the Orange Wholesale France network and paves the way for the company to introduce an innovative “light MVNO” for voice and data solutions in the new year.

Taylor added, “Our collaboration with Orange plays a pivotal role in every facet of our operations, empowering us to offer some of the most cutting-edge and competitively priced connectivity solutions available in the market.”

“As a global provider of mobile connectivity with industry-leading rates, Cellhire has diligently partnered with Orange Wholesale France to address the present and future requirements of our valued customers within the framework of this agreement.”

The deal will also see Cellhire enhance its IoT offering through roaming solutions in more than 220 global destinations with 700+ network operators, allowing the company to provide seamless connectivity for its customers and indirect channel partners.

Bénédicte Javelot, Orange Wholesale France CEO highlighted the importance of the partnership for both companies: “We are thrilled to announce that we will be continuing our longstanding partnership with Cellhire. As a renowned global player in the telecoms industry, we are optimistic about the potential of this new framework agreement to take Cellhire to greater heights, particularly as they expand into new markets such as IoT at a rapid pace.”

The post Cellhire and Orange agree to game-changing connectivity partnership with landmark agreement appeared first on IoT Business News.

Friction-free, global IoT connectivity reduces costs and operational overhead.

Today, emnify the leader in cloud-native IoT connectivity solutions, and Skylo, a global software-defined non-terrestrial network (NTN) operator focusing on connecting everything, everywhere, announce an industry-first convergence of satellite and cellular IoT connectivity from a single emnify SIM.

Partnering with leading module manufacturer, Murata, the companies are expanding the next generation of IoT connectivity to space. The combination of emnify’s cloud-native, mobile core technology and direct IoT cellular access with providers around the globe, with Skylo’s NTN satellite access, provides seamless, intelligent, friction-free, network IoT connectivity.

The emnify IoT SuperNetwork, the industry’s first cloud-native IoT connectivity service with direct access to over 540 cellular networks in over 180 countries, provides access to Skylo’s satellite NTN services, marking the first and only single SIM access to global IoT connectivity on terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks. This innovation drastically reduces the operational cost and complexity of adding satellite connectivity, delivering on the promise of converged IoT connectivity to meet the needs of scaling IoT businesses, regardless of geographical challenges or local network infrastructure limitations.

“Our collaboration with Skylo underscores our commitment to expanding the SuperNetwork to create new opportunities and open new markets for IoT businesses everywhere,” said Frank Stoecker, CEO and emnify founder.

“The addition of satellite connectivity exemplifies the power of the SuperNetwork to go beyond traditional networks to provide dedicated IoT connectivity with truly global reach.”

Skylo, the leader in satellite connectivity, shares in the excitement. “We are thrilled to partner with emnify to offer friction-free access to NTN, ensuring that businesses are always connected for critical needs,” said Parthsarathi Trivedi, CEO and Skylo co-founder. “This innovation in IoT connectivity provides new levels of reliability and device availability, expanding IoT’s reach to previously inaccessible areas, and bringing new use cases to life.”

“It’s critical that IoT customers have reliable, cost-effective, integrated hardware solutions to take advantage of innovations in IoT connectivity,” said Mehul Udani, Vice President Corporate Technology and Innovation for Murata. “Murata’s combined cellular and NTN radio modules provide a breakthrough in offering converged connectivity around the globe.”

Transformative use cases highlight converged IoT connectivity potential

Remote Monitoring Systems

In remote regions lacking traditional infrastructure, the unparalleled reach of the SuperNetwork with Skylo’s NTN satellite connectivity will enable reliable monitoring of water resources. The SuperNetwork ensures that sensors always use the appropriate network in their location.

According to Matt Trumbo, Director of Product Management for In-Situ, “For our markets, NTN effectively means you can use your cellular devices anywhere – no worrying about coverage, no hassles with local providers and network compatibility. It’s the benefits of traditional satellite data providers at an order of magnitude less in cost and in power consumption. NTN will completely alter how we partner with our customers to create decision-quality information.”

Asset Tracking

The SuperNetwork’s advanced reach and reliability with Skylo’s NTN satellite connectivity is necessary to enable breakthrough use cases and opportunities in asset tracking. High value assets are often stationed permanently or temporarily in remote, previously unconnected areas. Powered by a single emnify SIM, IoT tracking devices and sensors provide continuous data to monitor equipment location, movement and critical telemetry needed for services such as predictive maintenance, usage optimization, and security.

“We’re excited about the possibility of merging satellite and cellular connectivity for GPS tracking in remote and rural areas. It’s a compelling solution that extends our tracking capabilities to places where conventional cell networks can’t reach. This innovation not only broadens our service coverage but also ensures connectivity in the most remote locations, enhancing the reliability of our GPS tracking solutions,” said Adam Ben Jacob Director of Sales, Support & Technology for OneStep GPS. “Our team is eager to dive into testing and deployment.”

New SuperNetwork Eval Program

emnify and Skylo are offering a new evaluation program for customers interested in deploying converged cellular and satellite connectivity. This program will allow selected participants to work directly with emnify and Skylo to test their use cases and the capabilities of the SuperNetwork to jumpstart their converged IoT connectivity transformation with hands-on support and guidance from a team of IoT experts.

The post emnify and Skylo to Unveil the First Converged Cellular and Satellite Connectivity at Mobile World Congress appeared first on IoT Business News.

Downloadable PlanP2 Delivers Local Profile Without Permanent Roaming Restriction.

Soracom, Inc., a global provider of advanced Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, today announced the release of PlanP2, a new data plan that delivers IoT connectivity for Brazil using a local carrier profile to ensure regulatory compliance.

Brazil is a large and growing market for IoT, but regional restrictions on permanent roaming present a compliance challenge for connected devices designed to be used in multiple countries. With PlanP2, customers can use the same Soracom IoT SIM for both global multicarrier connectivity in more than 160 countries and fully-compliant 2G/3G/4G/NB-IoT connection in Brazil.

This approach takes advantage of Soracom’s Subscription Container feature, which allows users to add multiple network profiles to Soracom SIM cards and eSIMs over the air (OTA). PlanP2 is compatible with both card-type and chip-type SIMs (eSIMs) and can even be set to pause network access fees during inactive periods in a product lifecycle, such as transit and storage between manufacture/testing and deployment/retail. This is especially useful for devices that are manufactured and distributed globally, such as consumer electronics, wearables, location-based trackers, and connected healthcare devices.

“Success in IoT depends on a connection you can count on,” said Kenta Yasukawa, CTO and Co-Founder of Soracom.

“Where a local profile is needed, we’re committed to making it easy with a single IoT SIM and on-demand access to the right plan over the air. PlanP2 positions our customers to deliver leading-edge connected experiences in one of the world’s most dynamic IoT markets.”

The post Soracom Launches IoT Connectivity Plan for Brazil appeared first on IoT Business News.

Extending offerings in the UK, Netherlands, Germany and beyond will support IoT possibilities from manufacturing to clean tech.

Blues, a leader in connected Internet of Things (IoT) technology enabling data-driven solutions, announced today that it has expanded business operations across EMEA with a focus on the UK, Netherlands and Germany.

Blues’ expansion will provide wireless smart device infrastructure to leaders in manufacturing, clean tech, electric vehicle charging and other crucial industries improving our global community.

Blues’ reliable and innovative connectivity solutions deliver IoT-driven data intelligence for businesses so they can tackle global challenges around clean energy or better inform manufacturing practices. By utilizing the global cellular network, organizations can quickly and securely connect IoT devices to the cloud using Blues’ flagship products, Notecard and Notehub, eliminating connectivity challenges, cybersecurity concerns and the need for expensive infrastructure.

Jim Hassman, Blues President and CRO, says:

“Our expansion in EMEA will increase global access to our IoT connectivity solutions, solving real-world problems and giving businesses a new set of tools to make operations more efficient.”

“European companies are leading the charge in clean tech, electric vehicle charging, manufacturing and other industries impacting our daily lives and the planet we share. But lack of reliable access to IoT data and the inability to securely connect devices to the cloud have hindered progress. With Blues’ offerings, these innovators can now empower intelligent operations and data-driven solutions around the globe.”

Blues makes IoT solutions and data analytics easy to implement and possible for all with visibility and security at every level. With Notecard and Notehub, organizations can connect their physical products to the cloud at scale with a plug-and-play solution, adapting to any system or device architecture. Blues’ product includes cellular connection, offers consumption-based pricing and requires no carrier contract or subscription fees.

With easy-to-implement features, Blues’ devices provide IoT connectivity solutions for all industries with uses including remote industrial, electric vehicle, healthcare data and air quality monitoring control.

The post Blues Expands Global IoT Connectivity Solutions in EMEA appeared first on IoT Business News.

“For enterprise-focused mobile operators, IoT is perhaps the most-crucial service for achieving revenue growth over the next 5 years.”

Revenue growth from IoT connectivity services has slowed in recent years due to pandemic-related disruption and reduced economic growth worldwide. Across the mobile market as a whole, IoT is now expected to account for a small share of operators’ mobile revenue (less than 2% in 2027).

However, its role in the enterprise market is very significant, with IoT connectivity expected to account for more than half of operators’ incremental revenue from enterprise public network mobile services over the next 5 years.

Operators need to maintain steady investment in IoT divisions to reap the rewards of their efforts to date. Other sources of enterprise revenue growth for mobile operators – including fixed-wireless access (FWA), private networks, mobile device and content management – are either much smaller opportunities or will take longer to deliver on their promise.

This article draws on figures from our recent report Operator business services for large enterprises: worldwide forecast 2022–2027, which assesses operator revenue from businesses with at least 250 employees.

Growth in the number of enterprise mobile handset connections has been boosted by support for remote and hybrid workers, but ARPU is flat

Today, a large majority of operators’ enterprise mobile revenue comes from handset services, but growth rates are low. It is IoT services that will drive the most incremental revenue growth over the next 5 years.

Multiple operators, including BT, Deutsche Telekom, TDC and Verizon, have reported an increase in business mobile handset subscriptions in recent years, especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In many countries, demand from enterprises for mobile handsets has increased to support remote and hybrid workers, and public sector organisations have also increased the number of mobile devices provided to their employees.¹

However, despite increased availability of 5G networks (which might be expected to support an increase in ARPU) and inflationary pressures, operators’ basic handset ARPU from enterprise customers is typically flat or declining.

For example, Verizon’s business mobile connections increased by 4.8% in 2022 but its service revenue from these connections increased by just 3.9%, which implies a decline in ARPU. Many of the new mobile connections that are being added are for lower-usage workers than the existing base. In addition, the demand for scale discounts has also led to significant pressure on prices for large contracts. We expect this trend of flat ARPU for mobile-handset voice and data services to continue in the period to 2027.

The number of mobile IoT connections worldwide also grew rapidly in 2022. We estimate that large enterprises had deployed more than 1.5 billion IoT connections by the end of 2022 (up from 1.3 billion at the end of 2021). This number is expected to almost double by the end of 2027.

IoT connectivity will deliver more than half the growth in operators’ enterprise mobile services revenue over the next 5 years

In absolute terms, IoT connectivity services for enterprises will account for USD4.3 billion in revenue growth for operators between 2022 and 2027, more than half of the total increase of USD8.1 billion in operators’ public network mobile services revenue from enterprises (excluding private networks) (see Figure 1).

Mobile handset services will contribute a further USD3.1 billion in revenue growth, though some of this will be substitutionary revenue from mobile broadband services (which will decline in response to the increasing use of handset data and mobile tethering).

Operator revenue from enterprise mobility (including mobile device management and mobile content management) will grow at a faster rate than IoT connectivity revenue but from a small base; it will contribute only USD700 million worldwide in incremental revenue in the period to 2027.

Revenue from broadband FWA services will also grow rapidly between 2022 and 2027 but will account for less than 1% of enterprise mobile services revenue by 2027 and contribute less than USD200 million in incremental revenue. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be the main adopters of these services.

In addition, enterprise spend on private networks (including network opex, applications and edge computing but excluding network capex and spectrum costs) is expected to increase to USD7.0 billion by 2027, but less than USD1.4 billion of this is expected to accrue to operators.

Large enterprises account for most IoT deployments in some low-value, high-volume sectors such as utilities, smart buildings and tracking. However, they also account for a majority share of deployments in higher-value sectors including health, retail and automotive. The importance of IoT connectivity to operator’s public-network mobile services revenue from enterprises is especially high in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and in the parts of Asia–Pacific with strong automotive industries.

IoT has not lived up to previously inflated expectations but enterprise-focused operators should continue to invest

IoT services have previously been the subject of inflated expectations and attracted a rash of investment, which has faded over time. Ericsson, Google and IBM each withdrew from or reduced their investment in the IoT market in 2022.

However, for enterprise-focused mobile operators, IoT is a crucial service, perhaps the crucial service for achieving revenue growth over the next 5 years. Despite pressure on unit prices, the rapid growth in the volume of deployments is expected to support a strong, sustainable business. For those operators with established propositions, IoT is also likely to deliver higher margins than most other growth services in the enterprise market.

It is important for operators to seek opportunities to sell more value-added services such as mobile device and content management, and to develop their private networks propositions. However, continued investment in IoT is likely to attract bigger rewards in the short- and medium-term.

The post IoT connectivity will account for nearly 20% of operators’ mobile services revenue from enterprises by 2027 appeared first on IoT Business News.

A new report from the IoT market research firm Berg Insight says that global IoT connectivity revenues increased 24 percent to reach € 10.8 billion in 2022 as the decline in the global ARPU decelerated.

The ARPU dropped just 1 percent to € 0.38. On average, IoT connectivity revenues account for about 2 percent of total revenues for the largest mobile operator groups. By 2027, Berg Insight projects that there will be 5.3 billion IoT devices connected to cellular networks worldwide, generating annual connectivity revenues of € 21.4 billion.

The top ten mobile operators reported a combined active base of 2.3 billion cellular IoT connections at the end of 2022, accounting for 87 percent of the total 2.7 billion connections. China Mobile is the world’s largest provider of cellular IoT connectivity services with 1.06 billion cellular IoT connections. China Telecom and China Unicom ranked second and third with 407 million and 390 million connections respectively.

Vodafone ranked first among the Western operators and fourth overall with 160 million connections, followed by AT&T with 107 million in fifth place. Verizon, Deutsche Telekom and Telefónica had in the range of 36–57 million cellular IoT connections. KDDI and Orange were the last players in the top ten with about 30 million each. The year-on-year growth rates for the largest operators were in the span of 1–37 percent.

In Western markets, IoT managed service providers play a key role in the ecosystem. Most players operate as full MVNOs, typically offering IoT connectivity services based on a mix of roaming and local access agreements and sometimes also value-added services targeted at vertical segments. Notable examples include Velos IoT, Aeris, KORE Wireless, 1NCE and Wireless Logic. Altogether, IoT managed service providers had more than 150 million cellular IoT connections under management at the end of 2022 and around € 1.5 billion in annual revenues.

The post Cellular IoT connectivity revenues surpassed € 10 billion in 2022 appeared first on IoT Business News.

• Blues customers can add extended global coverage to their solutions now using IoT connectivity from 1NCE
• 1NCE coverage provides future-proof support for Blues customers with global expansion needs beyond those areas bundled with the Notecard product

Blues, a leader in easy-to-build IoT solutions that improve business operations, reduce costs and decrease time-to-market, announced today it will expand coverage through a partnership with software company 1NCE.

1NCE and Blues are the only companies offering global, lifetime coverage for IoT devices enabling enterprises to develop solutions to challenges facing markets from clean energy to manufacturing to health care.

1NCE extends the existing cellular coverage of Blues’ Notecard, an easy-to-integrate wireless IoT module. 1NCE’s coverage of 158 countries and regions adds to the 140 countries already covered by Blues’ Notecard product, giving enterprise customers the ability to deploy IoT connected products at a greater global scale.

“Our partnership with 1NCE extends our customers’ IoT coverage to support testing and product deployments around the world,” says Jim Hassman, Blues President and CRO. “Blues customers use our Notecard to tackle important missions, from monitoring air quality to reducing food waste. Together, 1NCE and Blues support our customers’ ingenuity with our joint commitment to simplicity, enterprise-grade reliability and scalability in the cloud.”

Notecard affordably and securely connects customer products to the cloud without the burden of cell plans, fees or complex device setup and provisioning. It works seamlessly with Notehub to securely route data from a customer’s products to their cloud application of choice.

Notecard’s firmware supports failover to a secondary SIM for uninterrupted connectivity, so customers can leverage 1NCE for reliable Notecard coverage within previously underserved regions. APIs, libraries, documentation, source code, open hardware designs and community simplify the low code engineer and developer experience as they progress from prototype to pilot to production.

Ivo Rook, Chief Operating Officer, 1NCE, said:

“Blues has one of the best IoT solutions in the market, and we see eye-to-eye on the need for global connectivity that’s bundled upfront and included in a customer’s device. Partnering with Blues will allow us to do what we do best: making it easy for customers to collect data anywhere in the world by turning connectivity into a nearly invisible part of the IoT value chain.”

The post Blues expands global coverage with 1NCE IoT connectivity option appeared first on IoT Business News.

Velos IoT is delighted to announce the launch of its latest connectivity solution – Connect LPWA, which offers one of the largest Low Power Wide Area coverage solutions in the market—aimed at resellers, enterprises, and OEMs who are currently on 2G and 3G networks and want energy-efficient devices deployed worldwide with reduced cost and maximised battery life.

As a result of Mobile Network Operators launching 5G services, many are having to reuse spectrum currently allocated to 2G and 3G networks. Companies need to plan and find alternative replacements for these networks as early as possible to minimise the impact on their business. So, it is not a question of if but when to deploy LPWA technology for IoT connectivity.

Velos IoT’s Connect LPWA solution offers connectivity on the two most popular LPWA technologies – NB-IoT and CAT-M1. NB-IoT connectivity is currently available on 47 networks in 35 countries, with LTE-M (CAT-M1) it’s 77 networks in 42 countries, and the list is constantly growing. Both options support low-power features like PSM (Power Saving Mode) and eDRX (extended Discontinuous Reception); users can allocate dynamic and fixed IPs and connect securely through custom APNs, all of which are managed on the Nomad Connectivity Management Platform with a single invoice.

The Connect LPWA solution will help to maximise the lifetime of devices with efficient battery management on an IoT network technology designed for the future.

Graham Hart-Ives, VP of Sales at Velos IoT, said:

“IoT users are facing a real issue with the decommissioning of 2G and 3G networks around the globe. Velos IoT truly believes that our newly launched connectivity options will enable customers with no choice but to replace devices with a long-term, cost-effective alternative.”

The post Velos IoT Launches Connect LPWA Solution appeared first on IoT Business News.

• Global cellular IoT connections grew 29% YoY to reach 2.7 billion in 2022 with 4G continuing to grow its majority share.
• China held more than two-thirds of total cellular IoT connections in 2022, followed by Europe and North America.
• NB-IoT dominates in China, while LTE-M is preferred in Australia, Japan and North America; Europe supports both.
• 4G and NB-IoT are the most preferred technologies for cellular IoT applications.
• 5G is nascent as module prices and breadth of applications reflect early-stage dynamics.
• IoT growth drivers are shifting, with the enterprise and transformation initiatives key in propelling IoT connections forward.

Global cellular IoT connections grew strongly at 29% YoY to reach 2.7 billion in 2022, according to Counterpoint’s latest Global Cellular IoT Connections Tracker report.

They are expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.8% to reach an installed base of over 6 billion by 2030. China held more than two-thirds of total cellular IoT connections in 2022, followed by Europe and North America.

Amid the challenges faced by various industries, such as inflation, macroeconomic headwinds and supply chain constraints, the cellular IoT market has experienced remarkable growth fuelled by the digital transformation initiatives undertaken by various industry applications like smart meters, automobiles and asset tracking in particular. Cellular IoT connectivity has played a significant role in enhancing productivity, streamlining operations, minimizing downtime, automating processes, and generating cost savings for industries.. The COVID-19 outbreak unexpectedly proved beneficial for enterprise IoT players, accelerating their digital transformation efforts.

Commenting on the cellular IoT connectivity technology dynamics, Senior Research Analyst Soumen Mandal said, “At the end of 2022, 4G and NB-IoT together accounted for nearly 90% of the installed base of cellular IoT connections. 4G emerged as the most preferred technology for cellular IoT connections after surpassing 2G and 3G-based IoT connections in 2016. NB-IoT has gained significant popularity in China, while Japan, Australia and North America prefer LTE-M technology for lower-end applications. Europe has adopted a combination of NB-IoT and LTE-M, supported by roaming services offered by most operators.

5G is still nascent but we expect 5G-based applications to pick up as the module ASP (average selling price) drops to sub-$100 and more 5G RedCap-based solutions become available in the market.. The introduction of 5G RedCap and 5G eRedCap will play a crucial role in driving mass adoption of 5G, particularly in developing and underdeveloped countries.”

Commenting on the market outlook, Research Vice President Neil Shah said, “The global cellular IoT connections installed base is expected to surpass 6 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 10.8%. The growth will be mainly driven by cellular connectivity adoption across various sectors such as utilities, automotive, industrial, retail and healthcare. Unlike the previous decade, where consumer devices like smartphones and PCs played a significant role in driving cellular connections, this decade will see a shift towards cellular connections being propelled by the digital transformation initiatives undertaken by enterprise IoT payers. The widespread adoption of cellular connectivity will also contribute to a further reduction in prices for cellular-connected devices, making them more competitive against alternative non-cellular connectivity technologies like LoRa, Sigfox and Wi-SUN. Over the past year, the cellular IoT industry has witnessed many consolidations, including Telit’s acquisition of Thales’ cellular IoT business, Semtech’s acquisition of Sierra Wireless, and Aeris Communications’ acquisition of Ericsson’s IoT accelerator and connected vehicle cloud business. As the cellular IoT module market continues to mature, we can expect more consolidations aimed at providing improved solutions and maintaining competitiveness against other non-cellular connectivity technologies.”

The post Global Cellular IoT Connections to Cross 6 Billion in 2030 appeared first on IoT Business News.

“US-MAX” plan offers multicarrier IoT connectivity across AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon networks.

Soracom, Inc., a global provider of advanced Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, today announced a new cellular data plan designed to maximize network availability and coverage for devices deployed anywhere in the United States.

Soracom’s new plan, “US-MAX,” provides IoT data coverage across the three largest wireless networks in North America: AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. US-MAX also includes access to Soracom’s fullyvirtualized cellular platform, including advanced cloud integrations and secure networking services designed specifically to accelerate IoT deployment and ensure success at scale.

In a country known for its wide open spaces, US-MAX offers IoT devices the largest available coverage footprint along with the ability to automatically switch between any of the three leading cellular networks for optimal connection reliability on the move. Soracom’s containerized multi-IMSI capability, which is compatible both eUICC and UICC standards, means that Plan US-MAX is available today as an over-the-air download to any device in North America using Soracom IoT SIMs or eSIMs.

“Oil and gas customers count on TOKU Systems to bring unprecedented remote visibility to tanks, wells, and pipelines across North America,” said Andrew Jarman, Chief Technology Officer at TOKU Systems. “Most of those installations are in remote locations, and we can’t afford to second-guess our connectivity. Soracom Plan US-MAX gives us the coverage our customers need and the ability to connect securely to our preferred endpoints.”

“Hortau empowers high-value crop growers with innovative precision irrigation solutions to optimize crop health and maximize the efficiency of their inputs by seamlessly connecting the soil and the crop growing environment,” said Nicolas Gendron, Director for IoT, Web and Mobile applications. “With Soracom Plan US-MAX, our sensors remain seamlessly connected even in rural areas, while the Soracom platform ensures a secure and direct connection to our AWS VPC. This perfect fusion of availability, reliability, and capability forms the ideal solution for our needs.”

Kenta Yasukawa, CTO and Co-Founder of Soracom, said:

“Coverage is the key in IoT. Soracom serves as a technology partner to IoT innovators across North America, Europe, and Asia, and we know extensive coverage in specific countries can make or break a deployment.”

“For devices deployed across the United States, it’s the right time for a plan you can download over the air to combine the greatest available coverage with the most advanced connectivity platform.”

Like Soracom’s standard global data plan, Plan US-MAX is offered on a shared success model, where customers pay only for the data and services they use, with no long-term commitment required.

The post Soracom Announces North America’s Largest IoT Coverage Area appeared first on IoT Business News.

IoT connectivity provider, 1oT, has partnered with eSIM producer, Workz, to serve what it has identified as a gap in the US enterprise market.

The partnership guarantees the security and rapid implementation of 1oT’s M2M global connectivity solutions with Workz’s GSMA-certified eSIMs and data generation services.

Launched last August, 1oT’s remote SIM provisioning platform, eSIM Core, is designed to simplify and reduce the cost of connecting IoT devices for businesses. Certified by the GSMA in October, the system currently manages over 1.4 million connected devices in 173 countries in sectors such as micromobility, smart cities, autonomous vehicles, agricultural appliances, and air monitoring.

eSIM provides remote management of devices over a cellular network and plays a key role in the Internet of Things (IoT). The GSMA states that adoption of the technology is currently low relative compared to its long-term potential and estimates over 37 billion connections will use eSIM by 2030 with approximately two-thirds of these coming from the enterprise sector.

Established in Estonia, 1oT has recently expanded its offices to the USA to further serve the growing need of North American businesses that require fast and cost-effective IoT connectivity by combining multiple pre-negotiated carrier deals. The US opening is intended to benefit 1oT’s existing customers by providing faster on-the-ground support and SIM order fulfilment on shorter notice.

Workz CEO, Tor Malmros said, “Our goal is to make it easier and cheaper for telcos to deploy connectivity. Whilst the SIM form factor has evolved over the decades, the process for generating their data has remained the same and is generally perceived as time-consuming. Workz’s Data Generation as a Service cuts SIM development time and cost allowing telcos to activate connections and revenue far quicker.”

Märt Kroodo, Co-Founder & CEO of 1oT said:

“We see Workz as the perfect fit for 1oT to allow us to deliver faster connectivity to our clients. Their certified SIMs and supporting technical services give us a full flush of GSMA-certified products as well as the agility to scale up or down as needed, without some of the industry’s usual heavy commitments required or competitive restrictions.”

The post 1oT and Workz team up to target US IoT growth appeared first on IoT Business News.

Quectel, a global IoT solutions provider, has introduced a new pre-paid connectivity offer to help simplify IoT deployments across Europe.

The new offer, for customers that purchase both Quectel modules and connectivity, provides flat rate roaming IoT SIMs for the EU 28 countries for 2G, 3G, 4G, Cat-M and NB-IoT at a highly competitive one-time charge, with plastic SIM cards included in the price.

“With this new pre-paid offering, we are meeting the requirements of a growth area in module sales and making it even simpler to connect Quectel’s modules for projects across Europe,” said Richard Hart, the head of global connectivity at Quectel.

“We are enabling customers to reduce total cost of ownership, mitigate technical risks by sourcing from a single supplier, accelerate time to market and reduce design complexity.”

Quectel’s pre-paid offer also includes access to its Connectivity Management Platform. Key features of the platform include secure end-to-end data access, APIs, self-service tools and service diagnostics, user administration, pro-active alerting, trigger management and reporting capabilities.

The Quectel Customer Care team, based in EMEA, is able to assist across all elements of customer deployments, utilizing in-depth knowledge and expertise to provide enhanced support, including hardware and firmware reviews, certification services and testing and debugging.

The post Quectel launches pre-paid, flat-rate EU28 IoT connectivity packages appeared first on IoT Business News.

Strong uptake in the energy, retail, healthcare, and consumer electronics, among other industries, drives rapid growth.

Soracom, Inc., a global provider of advanced IoT connectivity, today announced that it is now keeping more than 5 million IoT devices connected around the globe.

The rapid growth—up from the 4 million that Soracom announced in January 2022—is being driven by strong uptake of IoT devices in energy/oil & gas, payments/point-of-sale (POS), healthcare, consumer electronics, and agriculture, among other industries.

Soracom delivers robust IoT connectivity solutions to the world’s most innovative developers, SMBs, and SMEs to help them accelerate IoT deployment wherever they need to do business, minimize risk, and ensure successful, scalable IoT rollouts. The company offers commitment-free, pay-per-use connectivity services featuring speed to market, cloud-native integration and secure bootstrapping capabilities.

Soracom announced its first 1 million IoT connections in June 2019. Since then, use of Soracom’s secure, scalable, connectivity platform has expanded dramatically thanks to accelerating adoption across industries and geographies.

“Soracom’s powerful horizontal IoT platform makes IoT accessible to a growing number of partners, industries and applications,” said Kenta Yasukawa, cofounder and CTO, Soracom.

“As a technology and business partner, we help customers in virtually every vertical offload heavy lifting to the cloud on terms that make sense for IoT. As we reach this milestone, we’re truly humbled by the ways Soracom customers and partners around the world are building new connected experiences.”

Soracom’s next-generation IoT connectivity platform is device-, cloud-, and bearer-agnostic. It provides everything the people, teams and organizations building tomorrow’s connected world need. Using Soracom, IoT innovators can connect any number of devices to their preferred cloud easily, affordably, and reliably, with complete network control, anywhere in the world.

One such connected experience is delivered by Pocketalk, an advanced, handheld, two-way translation device featuring a large touchscreen, noise-cancelling microphones, a text-to-translate camera, and the ability to help people connect across 82 different languages. Pocketalk uses Soracom to keep consumer, business, municipal and professional customers connected to the cloud wherever they go.

“With nearly 1 million connected devices sold worldwide, Pocketalk needs much more from a partner than just a connectivity contract,” said Joe Miller, General Manager at Pocketalk. “From our first device to our third generation, Soracom has supported our growth with everything from eSIM provisioning to local breakout capability to IoT architecture consultation. We look forward to working together for a long time to come.”

The post Soracom Exceeds 5 Million Connections for IoT Devices Worldwide appeared first on IoT Business News.

Quectel Wireless Solutions, a global IoT solutions provider, is continuing to build on the successful EMEA roll-out of its Connectivity-as-a-Service (CaaS) and is now launching global connectivity sales in the Asia Pacific region.

This new launch complements Quectel’s heritage of providing innovative modules and antennas to support cellular applications and allows customers to simplify their edge-based deployments by purchasing SIM cards and connectivity management alongside modules, antennas and design services. Adding connectivity broadens the Company’s portfolio and helps its customers to simplify the journey of designing, building, connecting and commercializing their IoT offerings.

Quectel connectivity is available now in more than 190 countries via over 500 network operators, and currently provides 2G, 3G, 4G, NB-IoT and Cat-M connections. Connectivity from Quectel is available to the whole market and will particularly benefit deployments that can realize accelerated time-to-market and optimized business efficiencies from using a single supplier for module, antenna and connectivity.

Embedded and integrated SIM (eSIM and iSIM) offerings are now entering mainstream adoption, and Quectel has recently launched the new BG773A-GL ultra-compact LTE Cat M1, NB1 and NB2 module which offers integrated SIM (iSIM) support. The iSIM capability of this new module provides huge flexibility and simplicity for integrators and IoT service providers, simplifying customer deployments which previously would have needed to have a local-market traditional SIM card installed and managed. With an eSIM or iSIM enabled module plus Quectel connectivity, the module, once powered up, will attach to the best available network.

“Quectel connectivity is built on the backbone of service, quality and reliability, backed by Tier 1 providers and robust service level agreements (SLAs),” said Richard Hart, the Director of Global Connectivity at Quectel.

“Our focus is on providing commercial flexibility for our customers to ensure they receive high quality connectivity that enables their IoT solutions regardless of where they are located in the world. Using self-optimizing tariffs, we can minimize the risk of additional charges when issues such as over-the-air (OTA) software updates utilize extra bandwidth and therefore prevent bill shock.”

Alongside its long-standing global expertise in modules and antennas, Quectel also has significant experience in connectivity, having developed its QuecConnectivity platform that already manages more than 30 million SIMs in Asia. “Our module and antenna offering can now be combined with Connectivity-as-a-Service providing customers a single point of entry to Quectel’s full portfolio of products and services,” said Michael Wallon, VP Sales, APAC & ANZ.

“By adding connectivity to our capabilities, Quectel is reducing complexity for our customers by simplifying and accelerating IoT device deployment,” said Patrick Qian, the Chief Executive Officer of Quectel. “Quectel is committed to innovation that drives benefits for customers in the IoT industry, and our connectivity launch in the Asia Pacific region is another milestone in that journey. Quectel has helped IoT companies build a smarter world for more than a decade, now we will also connect a smarter world.”

The post Quectel launches Connectivity-as-a-Service and integrated SIM to simplify IoT deployments in Asia Pacific appeared first on IoT Business News.

New pricing model is simple, transparent, and disrupts the industry-standard subscription-based offerings.

Blues Wireless, the emerging leader in defining the full-stack IoT edge-to-cloud market, today announced a pricing update that disrupts the industry-standard subscription-based model.

The update drastically simplifies how customers pay for and consume data-routing services through Blues Wireless hardware and software.

Blues Wireless is the only IoT company that offers a tiny 30mm x 35mm low-power design, secure System-on-Module (the Notecard) that includes 500 MB of prepaid cellular connectivity. In addition to its small form factor, low-power design, robust security, and baked-in cellular connectivity, Notecards also contain an on-system database, file management, and machine learning capabilities. With the purchase of a Blues Notecard, customers get free, unlimited access to the Blues Notehub, a cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) that allows customers to create projects and activate, configure, and manage their IoT devices from prototype to production at scale.

Blues now provides customers the ability purchase Consumption Credits to use towards Notehub services, such as routing events to their preferred cloud solutions like AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud. Customers control what they buy, how they use it, and what they use it for. Volume discounts are baked in. Full transparency – no subscriptions, obligations, or annoying fees.

“Our core objective is to eliminate the complexity involved in connecting IoT devices to the cloud,” said Ray Ozzie, founder & CEO of Blues Wireless.

“The Notecard has fundamentally changed the game, eliminating complexity in part through embedded cellular. Today, we’re changing the game again with Notehub, eliminating complexity by embedding PaaS. From device to cloud: no subscription required.”

As of May 26, 2022, the following changes went into effect:

• No monthly project subscription fees.
• Each Notehub account now features a Billing Account, moving from project-based billing to account-based consumption, allowing all projects to consume services from the same account.
• Unlimited projects and users within Notehub.
• No monthly in arrears fees for routing events and APIs.
• Consumption Credit model that allows for improved consumption of current and future services made available in Notehub.

Consumption Credit model:

• 5,000 Consumption Credits are included with each newly purchased and activated Notecard at no additional cost.
• Consumption Credits are consumed from the Notehub Billing Account as Notehub services, such as data routing, are utilized.
• Each Notehub Billing Account is refreshed to 5,000 Consumption Credits at the beginning of each month if it’s running low, at no additional cost.
• Additional Consumption Credits may be purchased from Notehub and discounts are available, up to 80% based on volume purchased.

“Enterprises and individuals are tired of the fee-based, multi-year subscription model. People want simplicity, affordability, control, and transparency,” said Jim Hassman, President & CRO of Blues Wireless. “Every single company and person we have shown this pricing model to has confirmed that this is the future of IoT.”

In addition to simplifying the pricing model, Blues is also simplifying its pricing plans. Going forward, there will only be two plan options: Standard or Enterprise.

Standard Plan: Cellular connectivity and 5,000 consumption credits are included with each Notecard, and billing accounts will refresh to 5,000 consumption credits monthly if running low. Effectively a freemium offering, customers on the standard plan who are prototyping and testing new IoT concepts will likely have no need to purchase anything from Blues. Customers who need more Consumption Credits for their projects can purchase them at any time and take advantage of connectivity and Consumption Credit assurance in Notehub to ensure they never run out.

Enterprise Plan: Customers with large fleets and special requirements will be able to take full advantage of the features of the Standard Plan and be eligible for á la cart features of the Enterprise Plan around hosting, support, and services.

The post New Consumption-Based IoT Pricing Model from Blues Wireless Replaces Competitor Subscription Models appeared first on IoT Business News.

Integrated telecommunications leader teams with deep-tech IoT pioneer to bring robust cellular connectivity to enterprise customers.

EMnify, the leading cloud building-block for cellular communications in the IoT stack, today announced that it is partnering with Videotron, a Canadian integrated telecommunications company, to equip Videotron enterprise customers with consistent, reliable, and secure cellular IoT connectivity across diverse industry verticals.

The partnership will put EMnify’s end-to-end IoT communication solution at the core of Videotron’s new, full-service IoT offering for enterprise customers. Videotron will leverage EMnify’s global cellular IoT connectivity, simple and secure cloud-based integration, and local network access spanning 2G–5G, LTE-M, and NB-IoT in over 180 countries and more than 25 cloud regions. Videotron’s enterprise customers will also benefit from EMnify’s robust IoT network security and 360-degree IoT device visibility via the co-branded EMnify IoT portal.

“EMnify’s ability to deliver true global IoT connectivity, robust network security, and effortless onboarding made them stand out from the pack,” said France-Eliane Nolet, Vice-President, Revenue and Business Strategy at Videotron. “Our new IoT offering will be used by the world’s most demanding enterprise customers, so we couldn’t settle for anything but the best. By partnering with EMnify, we’re able to deliver the connectivity, control, device visibility, and seamless deployment that our customers need.”

By partnering with EMnify, Videotron will benefit from a fully managed IoT communication service including the latest IoT technology, scalable delivery, and dedicated support. Key features include:

• Global cellular IoT connectivity with EMnify’s single IoT SIM solution granting multi-technology network access in over 180 countries and multi-layer redundancy to guarantee the best connectivity quality and network uptime.

• Unrivaled flexibility, using the EMnify API and latest eUICC SIM technology to connect and secure any kind of IoT deployment to its application back-end.

• Complete data and device control, using EMnify’s scalable IoT monitoring dashboard and flexible device provisioning.

EMnify’s streamlined onboarding and deployment processes and minimal integration requirements will also enable Videotron to roll out its new enterprise IoT offering quickly to meet customer demand. Videotron enterprise customers already have access to the co-branded EMnify Videotron IoT connectivity platform as a fully managed service to connect, secure and monitor their IoT device fleets.

Mathias Muehlfelder, Senior Director Partnerships at EMnify, said:

“Videotron’s enterprise-grade IoT offering required the most powerful, reliable, and globally deployable connectivity solution on the market — and that’s why they came to EMnify.”

“We’re thrilled to be working with such a stellar local partner as we bring our game-changing communications solution to the North American market.”

The post Videotron Partners With EMnify to Power New Enterprise IoT Connectivity Offering appeared first on IoT Business News.

• Ericsson IoT Accelerator Connect offers enterprises plug-and-play access to cellular IoT connectivity
• Connecting devices and instant onboarding further simplify and increase the successful implementation of enterprise IoT projects
• IoT Accelerator Connect transforms digital sales within the IoT ecosystem with one-click connectivity options

Ericsson IoT Accelerator delivers a reliable and secure cellular IoT platform that empowers communications service providers (CSPs) and enterprises worldwide to scale their IoT business across tens of millions of devices.

Ericsson today launches IoT Accelerator Connect to bring this capability to enterprises and development projects of all sizes. With one click, Ericsson IoT Accelerator Connect provides enterprises with plug-and-play access to cellular IoT connectivity.

Difficult, complex and time-consuming integrations are often major challenges impacting the success of IoT projects. IoT Accelerator Connect addresses these challenges by transforming digital sales, automating business processes within the IoT ecosystem and serving user needs.

For enterprises: IoT Accelerator Connect delivers a unifying layer of packaged services to minimize complexity.

For developers: at their fingertips they have instant access to connectivity best suited to their specific use case, coverage and service level needs, as well as access to automated bootstrapping of both devices and data destinations. Within minutes, developers can use tools to scale – from one device to millions of devices seamlessly.

Devices can be connected at any time, including end-to-end device onboarding, with a cellular IoT-ready module instantly connecting the subscription to the customer’s network of choice. In addition, the solution makes it easier to connect devices to public cloud endpoints.

IoT Accelerator Connect advances digital transformation throughout the IoT ecosystem. Ericsson channel partners can onboard more enterprises with greater ease and grow their business. Module vendors can offer automatic connection of new powered-on devices called bootstrapping and hyperscale cloud providers can provide instant connections.

IoT Accelerator Connect includes the following integrated services:

• IoT Accelerator Cloud Connect makes it easy for enterprises to automatically bootstrap and securely connect cellular devices to public cloud IoT endpoints such as Amazon Web Services and Azure.
• IoT Accelerator Device Connect helps enterprises to quickly adopt cellular IoT connectivity by simplifying the deployment of IoT devices with pre-integrated eSIMs in the module, automatically localized to a CSP partner’s network.
• IoT Accelerator Connect Hub enables Ericsson partners to onboard enterprises with self-service by connecting to external digital channels. Enterprise developers can access self-service onboarding from participating partners and source coding immediately.
• IoT Accelerator Developer Portal supports enterprise developers to build IoT applications on IoT Accelerator with the help of tutorials, tools and code samples, complementing the official documentation supplied by Ericsson.
• IoT Accelerator Embedded Connect enables any solution provider to easily embed cellular connectivity into their solutions.

Kyle Okamoto, General Manager of IoT, Ericsson, says: “We’re proud to make it easier than ever before for enterprises of any size to instantly engage with, and benefit from, the world of IoT connectivity. By offering plug-and-play simplicity, Ericsson IoT Accelerator Connect marks a major leap in transforming access to IoT connectivity.”

“This solution covers connectivity of devices, networks and clouds, while removing hurdles for enterprises, communications service providers, hyperscale cloud providers, resellers and module vendors, to accelerate the growth of their IoT businesses.”

The post Ericsson launches IoT Accelerator Connect to make IoT connectivity easier than ever for enterprises appeared first on IoT Business News.

floLIVE*, announced today that Helix Wireless will be using floNET, floLIVE’s global connectivity service to provide consumer and IoT wireless solutions anywhere in the world.

“We were immediately impressed by floLIVE’s offering – much more than just a SIM card that can be used globally, but also the technical capabilities in terms of module configuration, the timing of deployments, and client support. Their offering enhances our ability to serve global customers who use our platform and integrations”, said John Squillace, CEO, Helix Wireless. “They do a lot more than just sell connectivity – floLIVE is really creative in solving customer problems.”

By onboarding floNET, Helix Wireless will now benefit from:

• Global connectivity: Through floLIVE’s robust IMSI library, Helix Wireless now has connectivity in their own footprint in the US and anywhere in the world where consumers do business.
• Integrated APIs: floLIVE’s APIs have been integrated into the Helix Wireless back-end system, making it simple for the company to offer robust connectivity and control to its own end-users.
• Technical expertise: Helix Wireless has found a real strategic partner, benefiting from technical know-how and insight into their global connectivity and growth, and creative problem solving for their own needs.

“We’re seeing many IoT service providers looking for an alternative to multiple operator relationships and dozens of complex API integrations to launch IoT services to their own users”, said Curtis Govan, Americas President at floLIVE.

“By utilizing our floNET global connectivity service, Helix Wireless now has true global connectivity with real-time visibility into all devices, and this can be bundled together to take to market and be offered as a package to their own customers.”

The post Helix Wireless Partners with floLIVE for its Global IoT Connectivity Solution appeared first on IoT Business News.

Quectel Wireless Solutions, a global IoT solutions provider, has launched Connectivity-as-a-Service (CaaS) to provide connectivity-enabled modules that can be shipped for use anywhere in the world.

The new unit complements Quectel’s heritage of providing innovative modules and antennas to support cellular connections and allows customers to simplify their edge-based deployments by purchasing connectivity alongside modules, antennas and design services. For Quectel, adding connectivity broadens the company’s portfolio and increases the completeness of its offering.

Quectel connectivity will initially launch to customers in EMEA, providing global connectivity before extending to Asia-Pacific and Latin America customers later in 2022.

Quectel connectivity is available now in more than 190 countries via over 500 network operators, and currently provides 2G, 3G, 4G, NB-IoT and Cat-M connections. Connectivity from Quectel is available to the whole market and will particularly benefit deployments that can realize accelerated time-to-market and optimized business efficiencies from using a single supplier for module, antenna and connectivity.

In addition, with embedded and integrated SIM (eSIM and iSIM) entering mainstream adoption, it makes even stronger sense for Quectel to offer connectivity services because the company will be able to deliver connectivity-enabled modules. This further simplifies customer deployments which previously would have needed to have a local-market traditional SIM card installed. With an eSIM or iSIM enabled module plus Quectel connectivity, the module, once powered up, will attach to the best available network.

“Quectel connectivity is built on the backbone of service, quality and reliability, backed by Tier 1 providers and robust service level agreements (SLAs),” said Richard Hart, the Director of Global Connectivity at Quectel. “While we support all forms of traditional SIM modules, we specifically also support connectivity-enabled modules that can be shipped for use anywhere in the world which means customers will be able to explore innovative business models that encompass combined module, connectivity and antenna deployments.”

“Our focus is on providing commercial flexibility for our customers to ensure they receive high quality connectivity that enables their IoT solutions. Using self-optimizing tariffs, we can minimize the risk of additional charges when issues such as over-the-air (OTA) software updates utilize extra bandwidth and therefore prevent bill shock.”

Alongside its long-standing global expertise in modules and antennas, Quectel also has significant experience in connectivity, having developed its QuecConnectivity platform that manages more than 30 million SIMs in Asia. The CaaS offering can combine connectivity with modules and antennas, providing customers a single point of entry to Quectel’s full portfolio of products and services.

“By adding connectivity to our capabilities, Quectel is reducing complexity for our customers by simplifying and accelerating IoT device deployment”, said Patrick Qian, the Chief Executive Officer of Quectel. “Quectel is committed to innovation that drives benefits for customers in the IoT industry, and our connectivity offering is another milestone in that journey. Quectel has helped IoT companies build a smarter world for more than a decade, now we will connect a smarter world.”

The post Quectel launches Connectivity-as-a-Service to help connect a smarter world appeared first on IoT Business News.

Berg Insight, the world’s leading IoT market research provider, today released new findings about the market for IoT connectivity management platforms (CMPs), a standard component in the value proposition from mobile operators and IoT MVNOs around the world.

Recent developments in the domains of network virtualisation, SIM technology and LPWA networking are currently driving a shift in the market towards a greater diversity of IoT connectivity management services.

As enterprises in various sectors inherently have different connectivity needs, IoT CMP vendors and IoT managed service providers are introducing new services to address different segments of the market, ranging from mission critical to massive IoT applications. Delivery of global IoT connectivity services comprises another key focus area, propelled by enterprises’ demand for managing their global IoT device deployments through one platform or communications service provider.

About 67 percent of the global installed base of 1.74 billion IoT SIMs were managed using commercial connectivity management platforms at the end of 2020. Huawei is the leading IoT CMP vendor in terms of volume with close ties to the domestic operators China Mobile and China Telecom and managed over 900 million IoT SIMs in Q2-2021.

Whale Cloud, formerly known as ZTEsoft and partly owned by Alibaba Group since 2018, is the runner up on the Chinese market. Cisco is the dominant IoT CMP vendor outside of China with about 180 million connections in mid-2021, followed by Vodafone and Ericsson. Vodafone stands out as the only mobile operator that licenses its platform to third-party service providers. IoT CMPs are also a key component in the offerings from technology providers and IoT MVNOs such as 1NCE, EMnify, floLIVE, IoTM Solutions and Mavoco.

Fredrik Stalbrand, Senior Analyst, Berg Insight, said:

“Several major IoT CMP vendors have in recent time added eSIM management capabilities to their platforms as a tool to simplify logistics and localise connectivity.”

Uptake of eSIM technology in the IoT market has been slow compared to the consumer market but seems to have reached a tipping point during 2020.

“Enterprises in the utilities and security verticals are now following in the steps of the major automotive OEMs and adopt eSIMs in a broader set of IoT applications”, concluded Mr. Stalbrand.

The post IoT CMP vendors add eSIM management capabilities to simplify logistics and localise connectivity appeared first on IoT Business News.