Why the telecoms industry must get a grip on the Internet of Things

Richard Stevenson, Telecoms and Data Monetisation lead,
Esri UK

Establishing a solid telecoms network that can cope with the capacity and coverage required to power the Internet of Things (IoT) is a serious challenge telecoms companies need to address within the next 12 months if they are to keep pace with the rapid evolution of digital technologies.

The digital transformation of people’s lives, both at work and at home, today, has become a relentless force. From Amazon announcing plans to launch instant-order IoT buttons in the UK, to cities across the globe looking at IoT applications for energy balancing, parking and lighting, the deployment of technologies which rely heavily on mobile networks show no signs of slowing down.

The connectivity capacity required to both extend the geographic reach of the IoT and also help it multiply for new applications both now, and in the future, is a serious issue for the telecoms industry. Existing telecoms network infrastructure cannot do this alone, and I strongly believe the time has come for telecoms companies to increase their collaboration with governments, organisations, ICT solutions providers, application developers and research institutions to ensure any UK investment in a framework to underpin the IoT isn’t devalued, says Richard Stevenson, Telecoms and Data Monetisation lead, Esri UK.

The importance of location

The success or failure of the IoT framework relies on geography. In order to effectively plan and manage network capabilities across the country, the above stakeholders need to pool resources and data together to create a foundation that enables the evolution of the IoT. Waiting another 12 months, or delaying this process, will be too late.

The use of real-time location data to create a visualisation of networks will be vital to planning and anticipating pressures to meet demand. Telecoms companies need to work with councils and governments to consider where sensors should be placed and what data these will be permitted to collect. They will also need to consider the path that data moving across a network takes and how it should be stored and secured.GIS image 2

The complex process of managing such a volume of data sets is why mapping this information based on location is such a vital step. By visualising these multiple data sets on a map, stakeholders have access to a ‘single point of truth’ for all network data which can be used across departments, organisations and governments to gain an almost real-time picture of a network at any given time, which is incredibly valuable.

Monetising data from the IoT

Not only should telecoms companies be looking towards location data to manage network capacity, there are many other benefits to consider. As the computational power of devices continues to increase and advances in sensor technology turn everyday objects into sources of data, it is important for telecoms companies to examine how vehicles, buildings, infrastructure and equipment of all shapes and sizes can be used to collect and exchange location-based data.

The opportunity this presents for telecoms companies, is that every data stream created in the IoT will be of value to a particular audience or audiences. For example, the data captured from smart chips on connected-vehicles travelling along motorways could be used to create a range of anonymised datasets: traffic volumes by time of day, origin/destination routes, shopping centre catchments etc.

The wealth of people movement data also generated by networks which, when anonymised, aggregated and enriched with relevant demographics, has significant value for transport, retail, smart city planning and environmental applications.

Where to next

In the coming years, it’s my belief that we’ll begin to see the emergence of IoT data consortiums, offering multiple data services using aggregated data feeds. Network operators are well positioned to provide and aggregate IoT datasets’ required to create and take to market these innovative IoT services.

Without doubt, telecommunications infrastructure and operational data are the critical components for the adoption and success of the IoT. By placing location at the heart of planning, telecoms companies finally face a viable strategy to address widespread concerns about the capacity needed to bring the full potential of IoT to life. However, this must be addressed soon, or else the balance required to meet demand will be seriously impacted.

The author of this blog is Richard Stevenson, Telecoms and Data Monetisation lead, Esri UK

Comment on this article below or via Twitter: @IoTNow_ OR @jcIoTnow

RECENT ARTICLES

Get a US$50 Amazon voucher for sharing your IoT brand knowledge

Posted on: March 28, 2024

We want to know what you know about the IoT space. Just 3 minutes could earn you a US$50 Amazon digital gift card!

Read more

Enhance EV charging performance with cellular connectivity

Posted on: March 28, 2024

Electric vehicles (EVs) are steadily growing their market share at the expense of internal combustion engine vehicles. The growth is fuelled by several factors. Perhaps most importantly, prices for EVs have started to drop as competition in the industry is intensifying. New players and models are emerging, prompting several established EV makers to lower their

Read more
FEATURED IoT STORIES

What is IoT? A Beginner’s Guide

Posted on: April 5, 2023

What is IoT? IoT, or the Internet of Things, refers to the connection of everyday objects, or “things,” to the internet, allowing them to collect, transmit, and share data. This interconnected network of devices transforms previously “dumb” objects, such as toasters or security cameras, into smart devices that can interact with each other and their

Read more

The IoT Adoption Boom – Everything You Need to Know

Posted on: September 28, 2022

In an age when we seem to go through technology boom after technology boom, it’s hard to imagine one sticking out. However, IoT adoption, or the Internet of Things adoption, is leading the charge to dominate the next decade’s discussion around business IT. Below, we’ll discuss the current boom, what’s driving it, where it’s going,

Read more

9 IoT applications that will change everything

Posted on: September 1, 2021

Whether you are a future-minded CEO, tech-driven CEO or IT leader, you’ve come across the term IoT before. It’s often used alongside superlatives regarding how it will revolutionize the way you work, play, and live. But is it just another buzzword, or is it the as-promised technological holy grail? The truth is that Internet of

Read more

Which IoT Platform 2021? IoT Now Enterprise Buyers’ Guide

Posted on: August 30, 2021

There are several different parts in a complete IoT solution, all of which must work together to get the result needed, write IoT Now Enterprise Buyers’ Guide – Which IoT Platform 2021? authors Robin Duke-Woolley, the CEO and Bill Ingle, a senior analyst, at Beecham Research. Figure 1 shows these parts and, although not all

Read more

CAT-M1 vs NB-IoT – examining the real differences

Posted on: June 21, 2021

As industry players look to provide the next generation of IoT connectivity, two different standards have emerged under release 13 of 3GPP – CAT-M1 and NB-IoT.

Read more

IoT and home automation: What does the future hold?

Posted on: June 10, 2020

Once a dream, home automation using iot is slowly but steadily becoming a part of daily lives around the world. In fact, it is believed that the global market for smart home automation will reach $40 billion by 2020.

Read more

5 challenges still facing the Internet of Things

Posted on: June 3, 2020

The Internet of Things (IoT) has quickly become a huge part of how people live, communicate and do business. All around the world, web-enabled devices are turning our world into a more switched-on place to live.

Read more