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Global IoT Connectivity, Simplified

By 2026, Cellular IoT Devices Will Hit a Global Total of 5.7 Billion, Creating a Connectivity Conundrum for Carriers

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

The ability to connect diverse IoT device types, with different needs, at massive scale, and with global coverage is needed now


OYSTER BAY, N.Y. - At the end of 2020, 6.6 billion Internet of Things (IoT) devices will be connected and active worldwide; 840 million of them will use cellular networks, which is just under 8% of the total. At the end of 2014, there were 180 million cellular IoT devices active worldwide, and that number increased by over 4.5X in the six intervening years. In another six years' time, there will be a further near-7X growth in cellular IoT devices, bringing the global total to 5.7 billion, finds global tech market advisory firm, ABI Research. This explosive growth means carriers are facing more specific and diverse demands for guarantees from IoT customers, especially when roaming.


"More smart devices are being deployed, and more types of devices are becoming smart," says Jamie Moss, M2M, IoT & IoE Research Director at ABI Research. "It is clear the ability to connect diverse IoT device types, with different needs, at massive scale, and with global coverage is needed now. Next-gen Connectivity Management Platforms (CMPs) and global connectivity coverage solutions are key to accomplishing this task."


Enterprises want a one-stop-shop, more so now than ever. Large multinational corporations that can afford to employ systems integrators to assemble customized systems are few, and while they were some of the earliest IoT adopters, they only represent a portion of the market. Most enterprises do not have the funds or inclination and may not even know what the IoT can do for them. Instead, they value specialist expertise that can deploy and host services for them that "just work," leaving the enterprise itself to focus on what it does best—its existing business. "Next-generation CMPs, such as floLIVE, can provide international connectivity for enterprises by allowing carriers to become International Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). The core network of a CMP vendor can collectively manage the routing of IoT traffic across many carrier customers' RANs, allowing them to sell international IoT services with the guarantee of a single price point for data and a consistent QoS," Moss explains.


Next-generation CMP capabilities build on the essential features of traditional systems by adding options that solve problems on the business side, not just the technical side. Roaming agreements are replaced with local connectivity, reducing risk thanks to partners having done this work for the carrier. This means faster time-to-market, fewer carrier resources consumed, carrier access to extra resources, and no large CAPEX investment, just OPEX.


"Carriers need more than just a platform to manage connectivity, they also need a third party to provide them with global managed connectivity as a service to secure roaming. Only then can carriers become effective IoT players domestically and internationally," Moss concludes.


These findings are from ABI Research's Tomorrow's Smart Connected Products Require Smarter Connectivity Services Today whitepaper. This whitepaper is part of the company's M2M, IoT & IoE research service, which includes research, data, and ABI Insights.

https://go.flolive.net/abi-getting-smart-today-for-smarter-connectivity-tomorrow-research-

floLIVE and NLT Telecom team up to link Brazilian market with global IoT connectivity

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Partnership enables expansion of NLT's services abroad giving Brazilian enterprises access to local cellular networks with floLIVE's hyperlocal global network

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: floLIVE, the creator and owner of the world’s first and largest global hyperlocal cellular network and a leading provider of global connectivity and network services for IoT, and NLT Telecom, a Brazilian operator specializing in IoT, today announce their collaboration to provide dual-connectivity access to both Brazilian and international enterprise customers, including OEMs and mobile operators. The partnership opens the Brazilian market to floLIVE’s global customers and allows NLT to expand its services outside Brazil.

This collaboration will enable Brazilian enterprises to seamlessly access local cellular networks throughout the world based on floLIVE’s hyperlocal global network, allowing them to benefit from high performance, regulatory compliant connectivity with unmatchable service levels. Simultaneously, floLIVE will continue to reinforce its global network by establishing local presence in the Brazilian market.

floLIVE is an expert in advanced, modern and cost-effective global cellular connectivity, with a global platform that connects tier-1 MNOs and the leading MVNOs in the world. Its cloud-native, converged global platform features the world’s largest connectivity library of its kind, fully designed and built for massively connecting devices on a global scale, with unified, simplified managed and control that reduces overall cost and increases operational effectiveness.

“We are pleased to be partnering with NLT Telecom, the main Brazilian reference in IoT connectivity, in order to expand our operations in the rapidly expanding Brazilian market,” stated Bill Wark, SVP Sales at floLIVE. “On one hand, this partnership is a symbol of our strategy to leverage our advanced technology and software platform, while on the other hand, strengthen relations with local providers, forming a true partnership which is a significant building block of our growing global network and an important milestone on our global journey.”

“floLIVE is the most important global cellular connectivity hub. Our collaboration also means being integrated with a vast network of operators and companies in this market, which makes international roaming easier and more natural,” says André Martins, CEO at NLT. “We chose floLIVE because they ensure we only need to deal with one provider for all our global connectivity needs, with one SIM card, one contract and one account, covering all our devices globally.”

For William Araújo, director of Technology at NLT, “the software-defined network offer brought by floLIVE brings us flexibility combined with the robustness of the most modern solutions in full core cellular network technologies. The platform can scale horizontally very easily, the ability to deploy in the cloud, on premises and in a hybrid model. Another important factor in choosing their platform was the cultural fit between the companies: as NLT, floLIVE has an API-first development philosophy, which indicates the priority given to flexibility and speed for the integration of new partners and customers into the IoT global ecosystem.”

NLT's second network core

With this partnership, NLT now has its own network core, in addition to that of its MNO Vivo, which expands its operations regardless of geographic limits, with a new standards second robust network core, which can be used both for public and private networks. Thus, NLT solutions become even easier to integrate with, allowing its customers greater diversity in the development of services, which confirms NLT's positioning as an important global player in IoT, establishing itself as an excellent alternative for global operators to operate in Brazil and as the full MVNO with the best core network structure in the country.

floLIVE & Kigen team-up with Protahub to provide local IoT cellular connectivity in Turkey

Thursday, October 26, 2023

London – floLIVE, the creator and owner of the world’s first and largest hyperlocal global cellular network and a leading provider of global connectivity and network services for IoT, and Kigen, a global security leader in IoT enablement via SIM, eSIM, and iSIM technology solutions, and Protahub, a new generation technology company providing state of the art provisioning technologies, have completed all necessary steps to provide local connectivity services in Turkey.

floLIVE is now offering local cellular IoT connectivity in Turkey to its global customers, via a single global SKU.

With its partner, Kigen, floLIVE has spent many months building the ecosystem and integrating the necessary systems and platforms to serve its global customers in Turkey; the companies teamed up with Protahub, the only local Turkish entity with the mandate to control local eSIM subscription profiles, to create a complete, end-to-end solution that will allow OEMs, global enterprises and mobile operators alike to obtain local IoT connectivity in Turkey via their existing eUICC compatible SIMs.

This has been a complex endeavor, as Turkey has unique requirements for local cellular connectivity, where permanent roaming is impossible and IP data must be routed locally, in-country.

“Traditionally, anyone who needed connectivity in Turkey had to approach the MNOs in-region directly and purchase SIM cards to install in their devices,” said Nir Shalom, CEO floLIVE. “They needed to engage in a separate contract with the local MNO, use separate APIs for integration, and at the end of the day they ended up with very limited management and control. With floLIVE, our customers benefit from a single SKU that simplifies their logistics and supply chain, and offers a streamlined, unified global experience. During the last few months, we’ve been approached by numerous customers – from OEMs to tier-1 mobile operators – asking for a local connectivity solution in Turkey as part of their global operations.”

The process flow in Turkey is unique, unlike standard eUICC local profile management:

• floLIVE provides its customers with a standard eUICC SIM, in all form factors.

• When a device arrives in Turkey, floLIVE’s Connectivity Management Platform (CMP) detects the device’s location and initiates a local profile download process, via Kigen’s Remote SIM Provisioning (RSP) platform.

• An SM-SR Swap process now takes place between Kigen’s SM-SR and Protahub’s SM-SR.

• Protahub initiates a Profile Download to the eSIM and validates with both platforms – Kigen’s RSP and floLIVE’s CMP.

“floLIVE and Kigen are working closely together on numerous initiatives and projects, and are looking to replicate this success in other regions so that global deployments are achievable with a single SKU and a unified experience,” said Vincent Korstanje, Kigen’s CEO. “With an eSIM, you have a strong foundation for trusted devices across multiple geographies, while complying with the local regulations.”