T-Mobile US and its German parent group Deutsche Telekom have launched ‘T-IoT’, a comprehensive enterprise solution designed to simplify global IoT connectivity, platform management and support, available across 383 networks worldwide and aimed at ‘disrupting the status quo of how IoT is purchased and managed’. A press release says that T-IoT will deliver: worldwide network connectivity including NB-IoT, LTE-M, LTE and 5G; ‘a single pane of glass to easily view, and eventually manage global IoT connections across several platforms’ including T-Mobile Control Center and Deutsche Telekom M2M Service Portal; a simplified procurement process that includes streamlined contract and billing, consistent global service level agreements, and customer support; and flexible pricing with a pay-per-data model or a choice of three flat-rate unlimited connectivity packages (T-IoT Unlimited Base, T-IoT Unlimited Premium, and T-IoT Unlimited Pro) across the US and Europe, as well as value added services to serve connectivity needs for the lifetime of the device.
IoT management platform provider Wireless Logic Group has expanded its global IoT connectivity offering by partnering with three major US mobile network operators, to deliver local (i.e. non-roaming) cellular 4G, 5G and low-power wide-area (LPWA) connectivity and direct network access for multiple IoT devices and applications in the US, as well as parts of Canada and Mexico. Wireless Logic, backed by Montagu Private Equity, currently claims over 20,000 customers with more than eight million IoT subscriptions active in 165 countries and direct partnerships with 48 mobile networks, while providing an overall reach into more than 750 networks across the globe.
Orange Spain has announced that among its 5G demos at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, it will control a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) submerged at the Oceanografic aquarium in Valencia from its stand at MWC. A user will remotely control the underwater drone using hand movements communicated in real time via the 5G network, which will also transmit live HD camera images from the drone to the Barcelona installation.
Semtech announced a collaboration with ICTnexus to bring LoRaWAN connectivity to the Cook Islands. As part of the ICTnexus Smart Islands project, an IoT platform will feature Semtech’s LoRa devices as well as a LoRaWAN network, enabling several smart island use cases including energy metering, water management, air quality and weather stations, street light operation, asset tracking, and emergency notifications (tsunami sirens). Tai Kauraka Tangaroa, CEO at ICTnexus, said: ‘Scalability was key in choosing the right technology to develop the Cook Islands into truly smart islands. As we start with [main island] Rarotonga to launch, building IoT infrastructure across 15 islands is no simple task, but the strong capabilities of Semtech’s LoRa devices and LoRaWAN standard provided an ease of deployment and scalability this comprehensive project requires to succeed.’
According to telecoms regulator Anatel, Brazil ended 2021 with 33.666 million M2M connections, up from 28.233 million one year earlier. Vivo continues to dominate the fast-growing IoT segment, claiming 12.467 million M2M subscriptions at end-2021, ahead of Claro (12.236 million), TIM Brasil (3.983 million), Algar Telecom (2.337 million) and Oi (2.024 million). In addition, MVNOs continue to gain traction in the IoT sector, and accounted for a total of 1.628 million M2M subscriptions at end-2021.
UK-based global mobile data/M2M/IoT specialist Cellhire reported that it provided 11,000 secure mobile data connections, with voice service activated on request, to the organisers, media, athletes and attendees at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in China. Cellhire will provide the same suite of services at football’s 2022 FIFA World Cup later this year in Qatar, where the company has established a direct relationship with network provider and official sponsor Ooredoo.
US-based IoT solutions/connectivity provider KORE has agreed to acquire Business Mobility Partners and SIMON IoT to expand its services and solutions within the healthcare and life sciences industries. The combined entity will feature a bolstered portfolio of managed IoT services, enabling KORE to better serve the clinical trial market that is rapidly transitioning to Decentralised Clinical Trials (DCT) and adopting connected devices to augment Electronic Data Capture (EDC) with digital biomarker sensors, as well as accelerating the group’s digital customer acquisition strategy with the addition of SIMON IoT.
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