The Pareteum Smart Network for IoT | Intelligent Global Connectivity
The Pareteum Smart Network gives businesses global Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity with intelligent network selection. This enables them to build connected devices, power smart city initiatives, and diversify their services with IoT solutions. Here are the questions we’ll be answering in the article:
- What is the Internet of Things (IoT)?
- What is the Pareteum Smart Network?
- How can the Pareteum Smart Network power IoT deployments?
To learn more about the Pareteum Smart Network, set up a meeting!
What is the Internet of Things (IoT)?
Earlier this year, we wrote an article in which we described IoT as a system of interrelated computing devices, machines, objects, animals, and people. In theory, we mused, each of these constituent parts would possess their own unique identifiers (UIDs) and be capable of transferring data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction.
Thus, IoT is a versatile technology offering a wide variety of intriguing use cases, including:
- Smart devices (phones, watches, speakers, etc.)
- Smart appliances (refrigerators, washing machines, thermostats, etc.)
- Smart metering
- Predictive maintenance applications
- Asset tracking
- And much more!
IoT has existed in some form or another for the better part of 30 years — ever since a Wi-Fi-enabled toaster was unveiled at a computer trade show in 1989. Nevertheless, IoT devices capable of generating broad consumer appeal are a much more recent phenomenon. One reason for this is that many of the more dynamic IoT devices and deployments require a substantial amount of horsepower from communications technologies. But, perhaps more importantly, widespread adoption on the consumer side had been, until very recently, lacking.
Indeed, as with most innovations, the demand for smart thermostats, watches, and doorbells did not spring fully formed and armed for battle from the collective foreheads of consumers. Rather, our current IoT landscape is the result of a decades-long slog, during which technologists and entrepreneurs alike made sometimes modest, sometimes substantial contributions to the connectivity world. For every iPhone, there’s 1,000 spectrum auctions, communications protocols, and Palm Treos.
That said, the staying power of IoT has been something to behold. And new innovations like Wi-Fi 6 and 5G continue to breathe new life into the industry. Today, IoT spans every sector, from healthcare to transportation, facilitating cost savings, data sharing, logistics, operations, and more.
What is the Pareteum Smart Network?
Pareteum operates the world’s largest smart network. By integrating cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity in 200+ countries and territories — with intelligent network selection for optimized performance and cost — Pareteum can guarantee an always-best-connected experience for a variety of IoT solutions.
The Pareteum Smart Network is composed of three primary features:
- Global Wi-Fi and Cellular — Top tier voice and data connectivity from mobile networks all over the globe. Door-to-door Wi-Fi connectivity in tens-of-millions of commercial and community venues, hundreds-of-thousands of restaurants, cafés, and coffee shops; tens-of-thousands of hotels and hospitality sites, nearly 700 airports, and more than 5,000 airplanes from 40 of the world’s leading airlines.
- Wi-Fi SmartConnect — Automatically connect to Wi-Fi or cellular networks based on quality of service. Reduce connectivity costs by offloading to Wi-Fi.
- Last Mile VPN — Secure all Wi-Fi connections to protect against crippling cyber-attacks and devastating data breaches.
It goes without saying that, without connectivity, smart devices and IoT deployments lose much of their appeal. So, by leveraging Pareteum’s Smart Network, IoT solutions can stay connected, no matter what, at the lowest possible costs.
How can the Pareteum Smart Network power IoT deployments?
To illustrate the value of the Pareteum Smart Network, consider the following use cases:
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Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and smart device developers
Connectivity is a hot commodity these days. Things are especially competitive amongst OEMs and smart device manufacturers.
Indeed, the world is currently on pace to surpass 40 billion IoT devices worldwide by 2025. These devices will span healthcare, logistics, automotive, aviation, construction, energy, public utilities, and more.
Any device that can keep users connected in some way, with the things that matter most, is bound to be a hit. And, of course, the increasing sophistication of such deployments means that there’s sure to be demand for compatibly intelligent parts.
So, one way for OEMs and other device manufacturers to seize this opportunity is to leverage Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity to create IoT-enabled products. With the Pareteum Smart Network, they’ll be better positioned to compete in a fast-moving and innovative environment.
READ MORE: Pareteum Experience Cloud for OEMs. -
Smart Cities
These days, cities all over the world are looking to use data and technology to create efficiencies, improve sustainability, foster economic development, and enhance the overall quality of life for residents and visitors alike. These “smart cities” rely on IoT to collect and analyze data such that resources and assets can be better distributed across the broad range of their alternative uses.
One of the more brilliant aspects of the smart city movement is that most use cases require very little in the way of new infrastructure. Indeed, IoT sensors, connected devices, and IoT management solutions have made it possible for streetlamps to moonlight as security cameras and traffic lights to assume double-duties as environmental sensors.
By simply embedding SIM cards into smart city devices and leveraging Wi-Fi to mesh them with other nearby installations, cities can launch sophisticated initiatives that generate revenue, improve operational efficiencies, and reduce external costs associated with poor community safety. For instance, cities can deploy:
• Connected LCD displays that serve up advertisements, traffic announcements, weather warnings, security notices, amber alerts, and other useful information.
• Smart streetlights that immediately tell city managers when they’ve malfunctioned.
• Smart parking meters that make it easy to pay for parking and enable remote top-ups for optimum convenience.
Pareteum’s Smart Network provides the infrastructure necessary to empower any smart city solution. Moreover, Pareteum Experience Cloud can help city managers supervise the deployments or administer control to the relevant departments, sub-divisions, teams, or municipalities.
READ MORE: Smart Call by City of Kyiv. -
Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)
For MNOs and MVNOs, the most obvious IoT opportunity is to offer cellular and Wi-Fi network access to keep devices connected and communicating.
There are two ways to accomplish this. They can either directly facilitate connectivity for new IoT devices and offerings or offer their networks to supplement existing IoT deployments.
For instance, let’s say an MVNO supplies a transportation company with shipment tracking capabilities. What happens if they lack quality coverage in a critical locale? With the Pareteum Smart Network, the MVNO will be able to improve the range, quality, and precision of their service, without investing in new physical networks.
Moreover, beyond connectivity, telecommunications companies have also been building comprehensive IoT platforms to help their customers manage deployments. As IoT deployments expand and become more sophisticated, the ability to manage and automate them from centralized platforms will become essential to ensuring they realize their full potential.
READ MORE: How Pareteum Can Help MVNOs Access the IoT Market
About Pareteum
Pareteum is an experienced provider of Communications Platform as a Service solutions. We empower enterprises, OEMs, communications service providers, internet service providers, mobile operators, early-stage innovators, developers, IoT, and telecommunications infrastructure providers with the freedom and control to create, deliver, and scale innovative communications experiences.
The Pareteum platform connects people and devices around the world using the secure, ubiquitous, and highly scalable solution to deliver data, voice, video, SMS/text messaging, media, and content enablement.
For more information on the Pareteum Smart Network, set up a meeting!
