Our world is exploding with new connected devices designed to simplify and improve modern living – connected cars, smart homes, wearables and even objects like toothbrushes and umbrellas. The rise of the “Internet of Things” – smart objects and machines connected and controlled via machine-to-machine technology – is a major driver for mobile network operators and service providers as well as our global economy. It is estimated that the IoT will grow from 1.9 billion devices today to 9 billion by 2018 – roughly equal to the current number of smartphones, smart TVs, tablets, wearable computers and personal computers combined. On-demand connectivity solutions and services hold important keys to simplifying the M2M ecosystem and solving longtime challenges to design, development and mass adoption of IoT solutions.
Since ubiquitous mobile technology emerged in the early 1990s, UICC cards – or SIM cards – have been used to successfully authenticate billions of subscribers on mobile networks. This is managed by physically coupling a wireless device with a UICC card from a specific wireless carrier and provisioning service after the device is deployed. For consumer devices, inserting and upgrading SIM cards is commonly understood and easy to accomplish. However, for the growing number of connected cars, smart homes, wearables and myriad objects that use M2M technology the task is not so easy.
Unique challenges of M2M connectivity, the engine behind the IoT
The design and connectivity requirements of M2M differ compared to those of consumer devices, especially in regard to durability, longevity and global reach. For example, connected car systems need to operate for the life of the vehicle and they are typically installed under the dash in hard-to-reach areas. Inserting or changing a SIM card under those conditions requires costly and time-consuming service visits. Additionally, M2M technology often needs to be encapsulated and sealed to remain water- and dust-resistant as well as protected from excessive temperature, vibration and shock, which are common in vehicles. Opening a sealed device to update a UICC card could cause damage, diminish the integrity of the device and lead to warranty issues.
Things gets even more complicated when embedded components are soldered into place during mass manufacturing making the device directly linked to one specific carrier before it leaves the factory. This is difficult for a global distribution company deploying a fleet management system across vehicles in different countries and mobile network operator regions because they need a different solution variant for every MNO – the inventory and distribution logistics alone are mind-boggling in addition to being costly. In addition, applications such as personal navigation systems offer connectivity as an integral part of the solution, which may simplify carrier decisions for the end user but presents new challenges and opportunities for solution providers who want to deliver products for more than just one MNO.
New industry standard
The lack of flexible enterprise connectivity solutions has been a longtime bottleneck in deploying M2M solutions and advancing the IoT. To address this challenge, Gemalto and a group of industry leaders collaborated with the GSMA to define specifications for a new industrywide remote provisioning standard that leverages a single universal UICC as a stock unit. Keeping security paramount, the UICC starts out as an MNO-independent component that is securely configured over the air for any MNO subscription profile at the time of deployment. The new standard defines a connectivity solution that initiates the OTA process and an advanced subscription management system with siloed security domains within the UICC to ensure a secure process. Finally, a fully automated process identifies the embedded UICC as well as the company in which it is being operated before the MNO profile can be downloaded and activated.
How it works
On-demand connectivity solutions start by leveraging secure “bootstrap” connectivity to facilitate the initial MNO profile download to a carrier agnostic SIM card. This enables the initial download to occur any time and anywhere in the world. After the preferred MNO subscription profiles and security credentials have been downloaded, the solution follows the GSMA protocol for seamlessly handing off services to the MNO. From that moment on, the device operates the same as any other MNO-specific device. In addition to first-time service provisioning, on-demand subscription manager solutions provide MNOs and service providers with secure subscription updates and remote wireless service management throughout the long life span of M2M devices even when M2M solutions move across country borders and need to operate on a different network. For M2M solutions that are designed to operate reliably for 10 to 15 years, OTA service updates are essential and ODC solutions provide an exciting opportunity for the entire M2M value chain to overcome traditional challenges, create new revenue streams and greatly speed and simplify deployment.
The benefits of on-demand connectivity
In an increasingly connected world, it is vital to remove barriers for growth and the new on-demand connectivity specs accomplish this for participants across the IoT ecosystem. MNOs increase their ability to satisfy the growing demands for network connectivity, reduce direct and indirect costs associated with UICC inventory and distribution, and more directly focus attention on their core competency and service offerings. Distribution logistics are greatly simplified for solution providers who reduce the need to ship MNO- or regional-specific variants providing an MNO-agnostic solution with simplified deployment. Device manufacturers are able to streamline manufacturing using a single solution for all customers and MNOs, while also gaining improved reliability, quality and durability that embedded MIMs provide. Finally, end users see faster service and support for connectivity from MNO partners.
On-demand connectivity is revolutionizing the IoT during a period of rapid expansion – as much as 40% year-over-year according to the GSMA. By streamlining device production, deployment and service provisioning on one embedded UICC, the M2M marketplace can reach its full potential free from long-term connectivity roadblocks.
Juan Lazcano is VP of M2M for North America and responsible for developing Gemalto’s M2M and security portfolio and delivering solutions to device manufacturers and system integrators. Providing strong expertise in mobile communication, Lazcano joined Gemalto in 1998 and has held various positions in business development and marketing in the U.S and in Latin America. Lazcano received a Bachelor’s degree in electronics and a master’s degree in management of information systems, both from Monterrey Tec.
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