Tech firms unite behind IoT: 5 network and platform deals signed at MWC

With Mobile World Congress (MWC) revealing new and more connectivity-hungry devices both in the consumer and enterprise spaces, the need for more robust, faster and reliable networks is driving the IoT standards race.

Interoperability, communication, latency, and more, are all key components that everyone in the industry is trying to address. Yet, in a united IoT world, there is a lack of unity when it comes down to standards, with different vendors and customers joining different alliances, consortiums and groups.

Microsoft, Samsung, Intel, GE, Cisco, Qualcomm and others have recently come together to launch the Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF), an open IoT standards body that wants to unify IoT standards so that companies and developers can create IoT solutions and devices that work seamlessly together.

In the meantime, at MWC, CenturyLink, Deutsche Telekom, Reliance Jio Infocomm and SK Telecom have announced the Next Generation Enterprise Network Alliance (Ngena), a network alliance set for launch in H1 2017 to provide international network services for enterprise customers.

Here's five IoT network takes from MWC 2016.