Vodafone partners with Microsoft to scale its new IoT business  

Vodafone has entered a major strategic partnership with Microsoft that will significantly expand Vodafone's IoT capabilities.

The 10-year agreement aims to leverage both companies' strengths to transform digital platforms for over 300 million businesses, public sector organisations, and consumers in Europe and Africa.  

A key focus is supercharging Vodafone's global managed IoT connectivity platform that already links 175 million devices and platforms...

16 January 2024 | Connectivity

Virgin Media develops 5G drone for search and rescue missions

Virgin Media O2 has developed a 5G-connected drone that’s designed to bolster communication for search and rescue teams.

The Warwickshire Search and Rescue team is the first to trial the 5G drone. In vast and remote terrains, establishing reliable communication proves to be a challenge for rescue teams—hindering their ability to execute time-critical missions effectively.

Virgin Media O2's 5G Technical Trials team devised a solution that leverages a network of...

13 December 2023 | 5G

Vodafone, Ericsson and Qualcomm achieve first RedCap RAN data sessions

Vodafone, Ericsson, and Qualcomm have demonstrated a new 5G technology optimised for connecting IoT devices in a simpler, more efficient way.

In trials on September 21 using Vodafone's live 5G test network CREATE in Spain, the companies achieved the first data sessions leveraging Reduced Capability (RedCap) RAN. Unlike 5G smartphones, RedCap provides basic connectivity tailored for less complex, low-power IoT gadgets.

The successful use of RedCap is a significant step...

23 November 2023 | 5G

Low-power IoT devices to drive massive growth in cellular roaming

A new report from Juniper Research predicts explosive growth in cellular roaming among low-power Internet of Things (IoT) devices over the next five years.

Juniper’s report forecasts that the number of roaming connections from narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) and LTE-M devices will grow over five times from 90 million in 2023 to 490 million by 2028.

The massive increase will be fueled by more bilateral roaming agreements between mobile operators that are tailored to better...

22 November 2023 | 4G

IoT MVNOs shift focus to value-added services

The IoT Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) market is experiencing a shift in strategy as connectivity revenue growth faces challenges.

According to ABI Research, the increase in Low Power, Wide Area (LPWA) connections – coupled with disruptive pricing models and discounted connectivity rates – has impacted the profitability of connectivity services for virtual operators.

Connectivity, traditionally the cornerstone of MVNO offerings, is no longer sufficient for...

17 November 2023 | 4G

Kaleido Intelligence recognises Eseye and Vodafone as IoT connectivity leaders

Kaleido Intelligence’s latest study recognises Eseye and Vodafone as leaders in IoT connectivity.

The study, Connectivity Vendor Hub: Competitive Analysis 2023, evaluated 39 service providers—emphasising their roles in Connectivity Management Platforms (CMP), eSIM Connectivity, and eSIM Subscription Management within the IoT ecosystem.

Eseye and Vodafone emerged as ‘Champion’ vendors in eSIM Connectivity and CMP, respectively.

Erik Brenneis, CEO of...

14 November 2023 | Connectivity

Telenor IoT collaborates with Polarium to improve energy storage

Telenor IoT will provide energy storage developer Polarium with managed IoT connectivity services globally as part of a new partnership.

The agreement outlines that Polarium will leverage Telenor IoT's advanced cellular-managed connectivity to offer a diverse range of digital solutions including fleet management, remote monitoring, anti-theft, and tracking services, ensuring comprehensive coverage for energy storage systems.

Focusing on fleet management, Polarium’s...

8 November 2023 | Applications

Eclipse Foundation’s Sparkplug IIoT spec becomes ISO standard

The Eclipse Foundation announced Tuesday that its Sparkplug specification for industrial IoT (IIoT) connectivity has been published as an ISO/IEC international standard, a move that should accelerate its adoption.

Sparkplug, which enables different industrial systems to seamlessly share data, is now known as ISO/IEC 20237. It passed through the ISO fast-track process for standards developed externally. The Eclipse Foundation will continue to maintain Sparkplug.

“The...

7 November 2023 | Connectivity

Scaling with the new GSMA eSIM IoT specification

In the realm of connectivity, the new GSMA eSIM IoT specification is generating anticipation among major industry players. We engaged in a discussion with Stephane Jayet, Head of Product Management within IDEMIA’s Digital Solutions Unit, to uncover vital insights—from the specification release to practical recommendations for optimizing cost and operational efficiency.

How does the new eSIM IoT specification (SGP.3x) coexist with the existing eSIM M2M specification...

25 October 2023 | Connectivity

Matter 1.2 supports new device types alongside other enhancements

The Connectivity Standards Alliance has announced the release of Matter 1.2, the second update to the Matter standard.

Matter 1.2 – now available for device manufacturers and platforms – brings a slew of enhancements, including nine new device types, core specification improvements, and robust certification and testing tools.

New device types

Matter 1.2 introduces support for a range of new devices, enhancing interoperability and security. These...

24 October 2023 | Connectivity