For today’s young generations, mobile phones and internet connection services are basic needs. Man has largely evolved from a basic telephone of Alexander Graham Bell to a smartphone that literally controls our lives. Today, smart homes, smart cars have seen the dawn of the day and will continue to rise to dominate our lives. And it all depends on the network service providers.
100 years back in history, and the only work of the network service providers was to make a way for transmitting telephone messages. 20 years back, and we have the first cellular services that did not need a transmitting or receiving cord to work. Some 8 years back, and we have the first use of Internet in your daily lives. Now the service providers have a new role- the handling of the emerging society based on IoT.
However, IoT has a different demand than what the network operators provide now. The communication of IoT devices is very different from today’s smartphones and laptops. While some may require small data amount in relative time intervals, while others may exchange a lot of data on the connection for a longer time period. This puts a very different demands on only the network from the data processing system of the operator.
As the fields of IoT develop each day, the service providers can look forward to multiple role in this new trend.
- Connectivity – The main factor or centroid of IoT is connectivity. Without connectivity, no automation will stand. The providers can ensure to offer a range of connectivity options as and when required for the Internet of Things. Most operators are already looking for assigning specific IoT connectivity solutions like LTE-M, NB-IoT, LoRa/Sigfox and even 5G in some cases.
- Management Platform – This service is already provided up to the basic operations by the operator provider. However, with rise of technology, this range can be expanded to offering device management, application management and external integrations. This is not only enhances their role in this new emerging world, but can also increase their revenue source which in turn can help in bringing new improved connectivity options.
- End-to-End solution – It is always easier for the customer when one operator can provide a variety of options. And Internet of Things is expanding from health to traffic system. And we have an example of it already in our daily lives. We prefer to shop our needs from a mall or a shopping centre that provides everything in one location, instead of moving around from one shop to another to look for what we need.
- Cloud computing Technology – This is a must for every IoT device. The ability to quickly spin up a virtual environment delivering both the network functionalities as well as the IOT platform functionalities addressing the specifics to each IOT use case, is crucial. However, the cloud infrastructure must be robust, having flexibility and adaptability to change as required by IoT.
- Security Issues – With connectivity comes security. Protection from cyber-attacks and malicious harm from the Internet is a basic need for all devices running under IoT.
- Partnership with other companies – Instead of fighting among each other to get the best number of customers, the network operators can join together to put in the best IoT solutions. With a combined communication network, not only the network is enhanced but also improves customer loyalty with a low market price.
The future will show us how the network operators industry affects the IoT and whether it can live up to its new roles. We all know – To err is human – we may fail in our attempts, but success is definitely waiting at the end of the plate.