[June 26, 2017] |
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GSMA Mobile IoT Initiative Takes off with Multiple Commercial Network Launches around the World
The GSMA today announced that its Mobile IoT Initiative1 has
taken off with the launch of multiple commercial rollouts of Low Power,
Wide Area (LPWA) solutions by several of the world's leading mobile
operators including AT&T, China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom,
Deutsche Telekom (News - Alert) (DT), Verizon and Vodafone. China Mobile and China
Unicom have launched NB-IoT across several key cities with China Telecom
launching NB-IoT networks across the country. Vodafone has also launched
NB-IoT in Spain and the Netherlands. DT has launched in several cities
in Germany and nationwide in the Netherlands. AT&T and Verizon have
previously announced nationwide launches of LTE (News - Alert)-M technology. In
addition to these deployments, the GSMA also announced that its Mobile
IoT Innovators programme, which is designed to encourage the development
of new LPWA solutions, has reached over 500 members, underscoring the
growth of the wider IoT ecosystem.
"The Mobile IoT initiative encouraged the market to adopt licensed LPWA
networks and we are now seeing this work come to fruition with multiple
commercial deployments around the world, as well as the availability of
hundreds of different applications and solutions," commented Alex
Sinclair, Chief Technology Officer, GSMA. "It is clear that the market
sees the benefit of adopting solutions that offer flexibility, security,
lower costs, and cover all use cases, and we look forward to seeing
other operators follow in the near future."
Mobile operators are enhancing their licensed cellular networks with
NB-IoT and LTE-M technologies, which utilise globally agreed 3GPP
standards to scale the Internet of Things. These new Mobile IoT networks
are designed to support mass-market IoT applications such as smart
meters, environmental sensors and consumer electronics, that are low
cost, use low data rates, require long battery lives and often operate
in remote locations. Both technologies will be further evolved in 3GPP's
Release 15.
China at Forefront in Development of LPWA Market
According to analyst house Gartner (News - Alert), China is set to be one of the
leading LPWA markets, accounting for 486 million of the estimated 3.1
billion connections globally by 2025. It is also at the forefront in the
global development of Mobile IoT in terms of both network launches and a
record number of ecosystem developer partners. China Mobile has launched
NB-IoT networks in several key cities including Yingtan and China Unicom
has rolled-out NB-IoT networks in Shanghai, as well as the main urban
areas in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Fuzhou, for a number of different
solutions across smart parking, smart fire sensors and smart meters.
China Telecom has announced the roll-out of nationwide NB-IoT networks.
China is also leading in the development of new innovative solutions
based on Mobile IoT technology as a part of the GSMA's
Mobile IoT Innovator community. Of the 546 global companies
currently developing new solutions based on Mobile IoT technology, over
215 are from China. Solutions include smart parking, pet tracking, asset
tracking and smart agriculture amongst many others.
Mobile IoT for Social Good
At the GSMA Innovation City, located in the Shanghai New International
Expo Centre (SNIEC) in Hall W3 at Mobile World Congress Shanghai, the
GSMA will demonstrate how Mobile IoT technologies are supporting the
mobile industry's leadership role in achieving the United
Nations Sustainable Development Goals. China Telecom will
demonstrate how its environmental monitoring service is helping to keep
air quality high and water supplies pure with big data analysis as well
as emergency response services (SDG 13: Climate Action). The GSMA will
also showcase how Mobile IoT networks are helping the St Andrew's
University Sea Mammal Research Unit to monitor harbour seals and
preserve life underwater (SDG 14: Life Below Water). Other demos will
include a connected bike, which utilises an NB-IoT network to improve
the operation of bike hire schemes, as well as a connected smart waste
bin for improved refuse collection from China Unicom. China Mobile will
also demonstrate its OneNET platform that can be used for different IoT
services such as smart homes, wearable devices or connected cars.
Mobile IoT at Mobile World Congress Shanghai 2017
At Mobile World Congress Shanghai, the GSMA's Internet of Things
programme will host the '4th
GSMA Global Mobile IoT Summit' with leading industry experts on
Tuesday, 27 June from 13:30 - 18:00. The programme will explore how
mobile operators, Mobile IoT customers and the wider ecosystem have
successfully deployed Mobile IoT solutions. There will also be a
separate session, 'IoT
Summit at MWC Shanghai 2017', on Thursday, June 29 at 11:30 that
brings industry experts together to discuss the IoT opportunity and the
many ways in which it will transform everyday life, including subjects
such as Low Power Wide Area, IoT security and IoT big data. To register
for any of these events, please go to: www.gsma.com/iot/event/mobile-world-congress-shanghai-2017/.
Get Involved at Mobile World Congress Shanghai 2017
For more information on the 2017 Mobile World Congress Shanghai, visit www.mwcshanghai.com.
Follow developments and updates on Mobile World Congress Shanghai
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social channels, visit www.mwcshanghai.com/about/contact/social-media.
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors
1.) The GSMA Mobile IoT Initiative: The GSMA's Mobile IoT
Initiative is helping to support the industry deliver commercial LPWA
solutions in licensed spectrum. It is currently backed by 74 global
mobile operators, device makers and chipset, module and infrastructure
companies worldwide. In the space of a year it has helped to establish
market standards for LPWA, published by 3GPP, that will play a
fundamental role in the growth, development and adoption of the
technology as well as securely and cost effectively connect the billions
of new devices making up the IoT. LPWA networks will be used for a wide
variety of applications such as industrial asset tracking, safety
monitoring, water and gas metering, smart grids, city parking, vending
machines and city lighting. For further information: https://www.gsma.com/iot/mobile-iot-initiative/.
About the GSMA
The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting
nearly 800 operators with more than 300 companies in the broader mobile
ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies,
equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in
adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces industry-leading
events such as Mobile World Congress, Mobile World Congress Shanghai,
Mobile World Congress Americas and the Mobile 360 Series of conferences.
For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com.
Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170626005295/en/
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