Sigfox reaches for the cloud with Google
Sigfox, French-based provider of IoT platform services, is collaborating with Google Cloud to scale up its cloud infrastructure and extend its portfolio.
This partnership will enable Sigfox to expedite its ‘Massive IoT’ agenda to processbns of messages each month from objects connected to the Internet using data stored in the cloud. Sigfox also developed its eponymous protocol, which is one of the big four for low power WAN communications, along with LoRaWAN and the two 5G options of LTE-M and NB-IoT.
The Sigfox network carrying this protocol is deployed in 72 countries, supporting IoT use cases such as tracking shipping containers, monitoring fire hydrants, securing buildings and helping farmers monitor irrigation levels.
Telia claims eSIM package can cut IoT roaming costs 28%
Swedish carrier Telia is offering an eSIM-based package, claiming this will cut global IoT roaming charges by about 28%. The product, called Telia Global IoT Connectivity, allows users to select local SIM profiles remotely in over 10 countries on four continents, exploiting local IoT connectivity charges.
It also exploits roaming deals with over 400 operators around the world, enabling Telia to offer a “unique programmable network” and a cloud platform for enterprises to control and manage global IoT data and connectivity in one place.
Ericsson and DT bundle private cellular and edge computing
Ericsson and Deutsche Telekom (DT) are extending a private cellular and edge computing package already available in Germany into a global campus networking package for enterprises. Currently Ericsson is providing the LTE and 5G componentry, while T-Systems, Deutsche Telekom’s IT unit, is offering server hardware and software.
The campus network is an operator-led concept that makes public networks an integral part of the offer to enterprises, alongside dedicated LTE and 5G set-ups. The hybrid allows enterprises to use private cellular, whether in vertical spectrum or in local allocations or slices of public networks, for highly controlled on-site industrial IoT, while being able to roam onto public networks if required.
Verizon, Deloitte and SAP team up to pitch 5G at retail
Verizon Business, Deloitte and German enterprise software group SAP are collaborating to target retailers with platforms combining 5G with mobile edge computing (MEC) to deliver real time analytics. This will tap data retailers may already have to improve customer engagement, inventory efficiency and productivity.
The aim is to address common shopping challenges such as out-of-stock items, while improving the customer experience with features such as automatic check-out without tills. This will be done through sensor-based analytics, AI and augmented reality (AR), working over Verizon’s 5G network and MEC platform, according to the partners.