It is no secret that M2M connectivity lays the foundation for IoT success. With a proliferation of IoT devices and sensors expected in the coming years, it is the right time for telcos to strengthen this base and take their services to the next level.
5 Crucial Attributes of a Telecom Platform for IoT Advantage
The telecom services platform an MNO/MVNE/MVNO employs can play a vital role in the success of its IoT services. When compared with the traditional telecom services like call, SMS and data; IoT services are harder to deliver. The sheer number of devices connected in an IoT network is expected to generate zettabytes of data, which simply cannot be handled with legacy software. Therefore, it is essential to make a move to cutting-edge telecom platform that, at the least, has the following attributes:
1. Versatile and consistent connectivity solutions
The M2M connectivity requirements can be different for different consumers/subscribers. While low-latency and high-speed connectivity is highly coveted by most users, it is the consistency in connectivity that leads to its success/failure. You can’t have a connection that breaks down for critical hospital IoT installations or automobiles. Similarly, there can be cases where sensor discharge is a primary concern of the IoT user. For this case, it is essential to provide the relevant LoRA or narrowband connectivity that is slow but does not cause sensors to lose charge fast.
2. Capability to process millions and millions of transactions
Without proper hardware resources to process millions and millions of transactions, even the best laid plans for IoT success will fail. Any mistake or delay in processing will directly impact customer trust. As new subscribers are more informative than ever and are spoilt for choices due to excessive competition, the chances are that you will face massive customer attrition without a fast-processing IoT and telecom services platform.
3. IoT-specific robust security measures
Unlike computers and smart devices, IoT devices do not always have the hardware capabilities to integrate security methodologies like signature-dependent blacklisting. Therefore, IoT devices’ identification and integrity management becomes extremely important. Providing a unique public IP for every IoT connection and implementing advanced security measures like AES during data transmission can be quite effective. But, most operators do not have such capabilities in-house, which is why; it is essential to partner with an IoT services provider that has the necessary security solutions.
4. Centralized charging system for true real-time charging and convergence
IoT transactions need to be charged in real-time for ensuring accuracy in billing. Also, the subscribers want a detailed bill that not only shows IoT service charges but also charges for other services that they are using. A centralized charging platform like Online Charging System (OCS) makes this possible and let’s telcos build subscriber trust.
5. Reporting, analytics and IoT-specific functionalities
An IoT services provider needs complete reporting functionalities to understand customer behavior. Analytics can also be of great help if they are integrated with the IoT platform. As an operator, you get frequent insights that can be used for devising future plans and services. Moreover, your M2M connectivity IoT platform should come with innovative functionalities like over the air (OTA) firmware upgrade option as it is not possible for the owner of IoT devices to update each and every one manually.
Conclusion
The true dawn of IoT services is not too far away. Although M2M connectivity forms the crux of a successful telecom IoT operation, there are other attributes of an IoT platform that you should also seek for ensuring total IoT success. A centralized charging system for convergence and robust security measures are two of the most important requirements of an IoT platform.