The telecom world is going through a transformative time. New technologies are rampant and competition is at an all-time high. Telcos are feeling the heat and trying their utmost to package the new tech into attractive service bundles, so as to keep hold of their existing subscribers and entice others into jumping the ship.
Out of all the technologies prevalent, IoT is the trickiest of the lot. The sheer scope of IoT is immense. On top of that, there are several bewildering predictions that have raised the stakes quite high.
“The total installed base of the Internet of Things (IoT) connected devices is projected to amount to 75.44 billion worldwide by 2025”
This is just one of the many claims from trusted sources. Such proclamations have put immense pressure on the shoulders of operators. The IoT trends today also point to an exigent need for a robust, scalable and completely secure IoT platform that is not only capable of supporting every new innovation of today but also next-gen IoT development projects.
In IoT, Ignorance is not Bliss
“And just like any company that blissfully ignored the Internet at the turn of the century, the ones that dismiss the Internet of Things risk getting left behind.” — Jared Newman
If you are fazed by IoT and are considering it to be just a fad, then think again. There have already been many successful IoT development projects that have yielded great returns. Fields like Agriculture (Smart Farming), Healthcare (IoT Pacemakers) and Retail (RFID Sensors) have already incorporated IoT with great success.
Although there is still a long way to go to reach the projected numbers, early adopters would definitely reap the rewards of their initiative. Therefore, it is imperative that MNOs and MVNOs across the globe – regardless of their scale of operation – should seize the moment and climb on the IoT bandwagon, as soon as possible.
Successful IoT Development Hinges on a Flawless IoT Platform
“What the Internet of Things is really about is information technology that can gather its own information. Often what it does with that information is not tell a human being something, it [just] does something.” — Kevin Ashton
Clearly, the Internet of Things (IoT) creates a layer of abstraction between the user and the machines. What goes on between the machines, stays between the machines and there is no need for human involvement. This is the ideal situation for any successful IoT implementation, but without a quality IoT platform, it is simply not possible.
Any connectivity breakdown or security breach can instantly undo all the good work done in IoT development. Regardless of how well the programmers have worked on the logic of an IoT solution, inconsistencies in the IoT platform can come back to haunt the stakeholders involved in a project. Therefore, it is important to prioritize the following features in the IoT platform you choose:
Robust Security Measures that are Updated Periodically
All IoT sensors and devices transmit a wireless signal that is not directly monitored by humans. This leaves them vulnerable to hack attacks. Hence, it is essential to employ strong security measures in the form of robust encryption like AES. Also, it is paramount that the security measures are timely updated to neutralize unforeseen future threats.
Stable and Versatile Connectivity Solutions
Every IoT use case is different, but one thing that it relies on heavily is the quality of connection. Ensure that your IoT platform offers consistent connectivity at the desired speed. For example, in a self-driving car, high-speed connectivity is preferred because the amount of data transmitted is high. On the other hand, in a parking IoT use case, the speed required is not high but sensor discharge can be a major issue, hence, low-speed and low-power-consuming connectivity solutions like LoRA and SigFox are preferred.
Conclusion
People have mixed opinions about IoT because of its bewildering scale and unforeseen requirements. While some belief, it will pass away like a fad; others think that it is going to be a success in the future.
But, if we look at it logically and consider its growth curve, it is going strong in the present. Given the right platform that supports all types of IoT development projects, it has the capability to touch human life in more ways than one. Hence, it definitely can be a bigger technology than the Internet itself.
Also, Read Dark Side of the Internet of Things
