Ericsson appears to making a serious push into the IoT space in partnership with mobile network operators. It has made a series of announcements around its Device Connection Platform, cloud based functionality designed to allow an enterprise to deploy, manage and monitor a wide network of IoT devices.
At the Broadband World Forum in London, October 20-22, Ericsson demonstrated what it described as “a wide array of the industry-leading technologies and solutions that are enabling the networked society,” including “Networks for IoT: Ericsson Device Connection Platform (DCP) with a self-service portal and for multi-domestic services; IoT smart authentication, which allows secure and controlled connectivity with authentication of non-SIM-based-device network access.”
At the forum Ericsson revealed, with MyOmega System Technologies, Intel and Telenor Connexion “the world’s first end-to-end site implementation of secure IoT connectivity service for winemakers,” based on its Device Connection Platform.”
It has also announced a partnership with Giesecke & Devrient (G&D), to deliver end-to-end remote SIM management services for IoT through the Device Connection Platform and G&D’s subscription management platform SmartTrust AirOn.
IoT for winemakers
The winemakers’ IoT service will enable winemakers to collect data on air and soil humidity and temperature, as well as solar intensity, using sensors and Intel-based IoT gateways connected to the DCP. According to Ericsson, “The data can be used to perform predictive analysis and to support resource management and real-time remote monitoring, leading to higher quality production, lower costs and reduced environmental impact for winemakers.
Ericsson says the service is based on the DCP integrated with the Authentication Federation Gateway. “Built on the 3GPP standard Generic Bootstrapping Architecture for LTE, the implementation features the world’s first end-to-end security and authentication capabilities for transferring sensor data to the cloud for processing and analysis,” it said.
Intel will supply processors and LTE modems for the IoT gateways and MyOmega System Technologies, headquartered in Nuremberg, will provide sensor and gateway hardware and software. Telenor Connexion appears to be the party using its network and the DCP to provide communications and management.
Telenor’s global IoT ambitions
Mats Lundquist, CEO, Telenor Connexion, said: “By selecting DCP, Telenor Connexion can feel secure while delivering global connectivity that supports business critical applications.”
Intriguingly, he added: “We know that the solution can evolve and if necessary support additional revenue models and data-transfer solutions in the future. In addition, having one single global provider of connectivity enables the solution to be standardised no matter where it will be sold or used.”
The partnership with SIM manufacture G&D appears to be aimed at embracing SIM management within the functions available from the DCP, which will be integrated G&D’s subscription management platform SmartTrust AirOn.
Global SIM management
Ericsson said: “The integration of the two platforms will enable the remote provisioning and management of embedded SIM profiles and policies within a highly secure process. As a result, DCP-hosted operators will be able to manage embedded SIM connectivity remotely as part of global Internet of Things/M2M solutions, and will be well positioned to develop innovative partnerships in these areas with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
“At the same time, enterprises and OEMs can manage embedded SIM devices across multiple operators and regions throughout the complete device life cycle, from manufacturing to phase-out.”
Ericsson and G&D demonstrated the system at the Asia IoT Business Platform event in Jakarta in August. The demonstration included change of subscription between two different M2M connectivity platforms “with DCP-hosted operator Indosat.”
Ericsson now has a web page devoted to DCP, but until recently has been rather coy about it. In August it announced plans for “global IoT platforms” with SK Telecom, based on its “IoT platform.” Ericsson also announced in a June 2105 press release that it was providing Canadian telco SaskTel with “Ericsson Device Connection Platform (DCP) as a service”
So if you add all these up, at least four telcos are using the DCP and some of them are talking about offering IoT services globally: Telenor, SK Telecom, Indosat (a subsidiary of global mobile operator Ooredoo) and SaskTel. Looks like some other telcos could be starting to feel the heat.
