The Shift Towards Seamless IoT Connectivity

The IoT market is poised for explosive growth, with the forecasted surge in IoT devices set to create countless efficiencies and value-adds across sectors. For example, imagine a city where thousands of IoT sensors monitor air quality, traffic flow, and energy usage. With seamless connectivity management, these sensors automatically connect to the best available network, ensuring real-time data transmission. This enables city planners to make informed decisions quickly, improving urban living conditions and reducing environmental impacts.?

For this to happen, eSIM technology will play a pivotal role, especially when it comes to facilitating remote, secured connectivity management. In fact, for utility companies, eSIM will prove invaluable for devices deployed in the field, as it will enable them to seamlessly switch carriers without the need for physical access to devices. Let’s take smart meters for example - smart meters in the field often have a life span of 10-15 years, however, mobile subscriptions will typically need to be renewed far more regularly. To do so, there must be a seamless way to remotely manage the connectivity of these devices, whilst ensuring they remain connected and without interruption. But that’s not to say it’s limited to only utilities. The ability to connect devices across the globe is transforming countless industries – from smart utilities, agriculture, and manufacturing to automotive, healthcare, and transport - and is driving unprecedented efficiencies, innovation, and competitive advantage in each.??

The Market Challenges?

With great opportunity comes challenge in equal measure. On top of streamlining manufacturing and logistics to meet increased demand, as the sector scales so too must the supporting infrastructure and technology.??

Effectively managing and connecting such anticipated volumes of IoT devices over extended lifecycles will be no easy feat. Indeed, establishing secured, optimised, reliable, and near-constant connectivity for every device will be key, but could also be complicated by potential network congestion, interference, and coverage gaps.??

Battery-powered IoT devices running on a single charge will also need to operate remotely on minimal power over long periods of time. Reliable battery performance with extended life spans and efficient power management will be non-negotiables to accommodate the surge in battery-powered IoT devices.?

Seamless Connectivity – An IoT Enabler??

As industries increasingly rely on IoT solutions, the ability to deploy and manage these devices and connections effortlessly becomes crucial. Seamless cellular connectivity management ensures that IoT devices can automatically connect to the optimal network, reducing downtime and operational complexity. This not only accelerates time-to-market but also enhances the scalability and resilience of IoT projects.?

With the growing emphasis on security and compliance, having a robust connectivity management system in place also ensures that devices remain secure and compliant with industry standards throughout their lifecycle. In essence, streamlined IoT deployments enable businesses to focus on leveraging data and insights to drive growth, rather than getting bogged down by security or compliance concerns.?

The Solution: Pushing IoT Boundaries with Eseye?

With connectivity the backbone of innovation, earlier this year we were excited to partner with Eseye, a global IoT connectivity solutions provider, to push the boundaries of what’s possible in IoT connectivity.?

Eseye offers world-class connectivity solutions to IoT service providers, catering to the evolving needs of the IoT landscape. It is therefore well placed to face the challenges associated with delivering highly flexible and efficient connectivity solutions. This includes managing vast numbers of IoT devices, ensuring optimal local mobile network connections for each device, and adapting to changing network environments over device lifetimes.?

The partnership between Thales and Eseye marks a significant advancement in the IoT connectivity landscape, promising to reshape how devices are managed and deployed globally. By introducing Thales Adaptive Connect (TAC), a cloud-based solution that eliminates the need for pre-configuration, the collaboration addresses critical challenges faced by IoT service providers. TAC enables devices to automatically connect to the optimal local network, ensuring uninterrupted service and enhancing operational efficiency. This capability is particularly vital as businesses increasingly rely on vast networks of IoT devices across various sectors, including smart utilities, logistics, and automotive.?

The implications for the wider IoT connectivity ecosystem are profound. With TAC’s ability to manage devices remotely and adapt to changing network conditions, businesses can scale their operations more effectively and respond swiftly to market demands. This flexibility not only streamlines deployment processes but also reduces operational costs, allowing companies to focus on innovation rather than the complexities of connectivity management. Furthermore, adherence to GSMA’s SGP.32 eSIM standards* allows for flexible eSIM connectivity across the entire IoT domain. As a result, this partnership not only enhances individual business capabilities but also contributes to a more robust and interconnected IoT ecosystem, fostering growth and innovation across industries.?

Looking ahead?

As we look to the future of IoT connectivity, the collaboration between Thales and Eseye represents a significant leap forward in IoT connectivity, and we are incredibly pleased with the progress and potential of this partnership. By addressing the challenges of seamless connectivity, we are enabling businesses and the wider ecosystem to unlock new opportunities for growth and innovation – it’s an exciting time to be at the forefront of this transformative industry.?

* https://www.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/technologies/esim/gsma_resources/sgp-32-v1-0/ ??