Telstra and Ericsson are combining their cellular IoT and connectivity services, in the shape of the former’s narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) and LTE-M networks and the latter’s IoT Accelerator connectivity and device management platform, respectively. The move will enable the deployment and management of IoT devices and applications across international markets.
From the end of March, Telstra’s enterprise customers will be able to manage, access and track IoT devices at local, national or global levels via Telstra’s cellular NB-IoT and CAT-M1 networks, and support for eSIM (eUICC) via Ericsson’s IoT Accelerator, which also opens up cellular low-power wide-area (LPWA) roaming to IoT device makers.
Telstra deployed its ‘extended-range’ NB-IoT network in September 2018, increasing coverage to more than 3.5 million square kilometers, and its cell range to 100 kilometres. Ericsson’s IoT Accelerator ecosystem covers more than 30 service providers in more than 100 countries, serving around 3,500 enterprises, Ericsson said. It offers connectivity based on service level agreements and a “common, unified view” of devices and access networks.
Håkan Eriksson, chief technology officer at Telstra, said: “With the ever-increasing expansion of the IoT market, our partnership with Ericsson will offer our customers an easier way to manage and scale connected devices and applications, and with our combination of NB-IoT and Cat-M1 technologies, international enterprises, across a range of industries, will have international IoT connectivity solutions.”
Emilio Romeo, head of Ericsson Australia and New Zealand, said: “Enterprises can now integrate their business processes with the managed connectivity services offered by Telstra and Ericsson to create highly reliable IoT solutions, which will help to drive digital transformation of industries in Australia and internationally.
“We are enabling enterprises to launch IoT services on a global scale and helping the industry to capitalize on the tremendous potential that IoT brings. This is further evidence of how Ericsson IoT Accelerator can help enterprises to manage their IoT connections with ease, while helping our partners, such as Telstra, to create new opportunities and revenue streams.”
The GSMA said yesterday (March 24), ahead of MWC 2019 in Barcelona, a total of 94 commercial NB-IoT and LTE-M networks have now been launched in 50 markets.
