What does the first pan African MTN Internet of Things platform mean for businesses
When it comes to SIM cards we are all aware of the SIM that reside in our phones, however what we might not be aware of is that there are thousands of machines and equipment that use a SIM card as a way to send information back to the head office to be processed and analysed. These machines not only send information but are able to make decisions based on what other machines respond. This type of communication is known as Machine-to-Machine communication.
Vehicle tracking is one such machine that uses the SIM to track the vehicle’s position. Each tracking device used the SIM to sends information to a server which process that information and sends alerts and reactions based on the information received.
Whilst this solution works in South Africa, the tracking company faces a big challenge when they track vehicles that travel into Africa as the data that is transferred now uses international roaming data which is not only expensive but the infrastructure to communicate with the SIM becomes very complex.
Other companies that face the same problem include businesses that use SIM cards to monitor equipment such as vending machines, geysers, security systems etc. Using these services in the rest of Africa requires the company to invest in their own infrastructure which ultimately becomes too cost prohibitive.
This is where MTN comes in with their development of the first pan African Internet of Things platform (IoT). This system allows partners, who use MTN SIM cards, to get instant access across the entire MTN footprint which includes 47 Data centres across Africa. South African software developers that have a solution can now deployed that solution into African countries without having to worry about setting up and maintaining their own local infrastructure.
Having access to the IoT platform is all about empowering MTN businesses to better cater for their customers as the platform allows for self-management of the SIMs with tasks such as provisioning SIM, allocating Data, setting limits, registering SIM cards etc.
Key to the success of the IoT platform is that MTN has separated Voice and Data on their network. This means that Data from the machines no longer have to compete with the heavy voice traffic that is on the network which reduces the latency enabling the device to work more efficiently.
If you have a good ides or concept but don’t have the ability to develop it, MTN has partnered with the Innovation Hub and Intel. Together with these partners, ideas can be developed and matured into international solutions using the MTN IoT open architecture and open API.
MTN is not being prescriptive and this is key to the success of IoT. MTN is clearly moving from relying on revenue from voice, which will eventually become zero-rated, to being the ICT solution provider of choice.
A smart move for the company to remain relevant into the future.
*headline image from Shutterstock.com
