The Dutch firm will provide its remote SIM Provisioning platform
Japanese telecommunications operator SoftBank has selected Dutch digital security firm Gemalto as a partner for On-Demand Connectivity (ODC) services enabling both consumer and industrial machine-to-machine (M2M) IoT connectivity and deployment of value added applications and services.
Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, Gemalto will supply its Remote SIM Provisioning platform, allowing SoftBank to remotely manage initial connectivity and subscriptions throughout the device’s lifecycle.
With this solution, SoftBank will be able to connect expanding digital devices, such as connected cars, wearables, traffic monitoring systems, or smart meters.
[With the industry fast moving to IoT, Gemalto’s rich and wide-ranging portfolio of IoT products and solutions made it a natural choice for us,” said Hironobu Tamba, Division Head, Service Platform Strategy & Development Division of Softbank. “As the number of connected devices grows each day, and the demand for flexibility and seamless user experience soars, we believe ODC is a game-changer for the telecommunications industry,” the executive added.
“We are very excited to be selected by SoftBank for this prestigious program and with our experience of deploying more than 20 projects worldwide, we are confident of delivering a solid platform to boost new revenue streams and create a unique and valuable experience for customers,” said Sashidhar Thothadri, Senior Vice President, Mobile Services & IoT, South Asia & Japan at Gemalto.
IoT has been experiencing great momentum in Japan since the formation of the IoT Acceleration Consortium. According to the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), domestic IoT revenue is forecast to reach $130 billion this year, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11%. JETRO expects IoT expenditures and investments in Japan to cross the $100 billion mark by 2018, growing at a 17% CAGR. The present top-spending sectors are manufacturing, transportation, and utilities, JETRO said.
