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  • China’s 5G-Boosted M2M & IoT Market Set for 7% CAGR Surge by 2030: The Future of Mobile Connectivity

    China’s 5G-Boosted M2M & IoT Market Set for 7% CAGR Surge by 2030: The Future of Mobile Connectivity

    The cellular machine-to-machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity market in China is projected to experience considerable expansion over the next decade. Projected growth rates estimate an increase in subscriptions at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7% from 2025 to 2030. The driving factors behind this growth include the emergence of new applications across diverse industries, the development of 5G infrastructure by telecommunications firms, and their comprehensive M2M/IoT service offerings.

    Increasing Adoption of M2M/IoT Technology

    The China Mobile Broadband Forecast for the third quarter of 2025 suggests that M2M/IoT subscriptions will constitute approximately 30% of all mobile subscriptions in the nation by 2030. This statistic underscores the escalating adoption of this technology and its growing significance as a revenue stream for telecom firms.

    China’s vast manufacturing base and pervasive digitalization in the sector support the growth of the M2M/IoT market. The advent of digital factories, which require extensive automation and connectivity for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance, will bolster this growth.

    Expanded Use Cases

    Telecom Analyst Hrushikesh Mahananda points out that the expansion of use cases beyond the manufacturing sector will also benefit the market. Applications in the utilities sector, such as smart grids and smart metering, along with vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure applications in the automotive and transportation sector, are notable examples. Additionally, connected devices and patient monitoring in healthcare and smart city initiatives involving smart buildings, traffic control, and public safety systems show promising potential.

    Government backing for the integration of M2M/IoT technology into manufacturing, smart cities, and public infrastructure projects aligns with national strategies like Made in China 2025 and China 2035. This alignment highlights the technology’s increasing relevance in the country.

    5G Infrastructure and M2M/IoT Expansion

    The creation of a robust 5G infrastructure and advancements in 5G-Advanced technology, which support large-scale IoT deployments, will further boost the M2M/IoT sector in China. For instance, the Chinese telecom regulator MIIT plans to establish over 10,000 5G factories during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) to enhance industrial applications of 5G, primarily in manufacturing.

    Mahananda concludes that the growing prominence of M2M/IoT has led China’s leading mobile operators to design comprehensive service offerings that are fueling growth in M2M/IoT connectivity subscriptions. These operators have also developed advanced M2M/IoT platforms that streamline deployment, integration, and management of M2M/IoT ecosystems across industries, further enhancing connectivity, device management, edge, and AI capabilities.

    Questions & Answers

    What factors are driving the growth of M2M/IoT connectivity in China?
    The growth is driven by new use cases across various sectors, advancements in 5G infrastructure by telecom companies, and their comprehensive M2M/IoT service offerings.

    What percentage of mobile subscriptions in China will M2M/IoT subscriptions make up by 2030?
    According to the China Mobile Broadband Forecast (Q3-2025), M2M/IoT subscriptions will account for approximately 30% of all mobile subscriptions by 2030.

    What role does the Chinese government play in the growth of M2M/IoT connectivity?
    The government supports the integration of M2M/IoT technology into the manufacturing sector, smart cities, and public infrastructure projects, which aligns with national initiatives like Made in China 2025 and China 2035.

  • Australia’s IoT Boom: 5G Evolution to Fuel 22.1 Million Connections by 2030

    Australia’s IoT Boom: 5G Evolution to Fuel 22.1 Million Connections by 2030

    The expansion and modernization of 5G networks, coupled with the increasing use of IoT/M2M connectivity and strong government backing for these ecosystems, is set to significantly increase M2M/IoT cellular connections in Australia. By the end of 2030, it’s projected that there will be 22.1 million such connections. This represents a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7% from 2025 to 2030.

    5G Growth and Impact on IoT/M2M Market

    Forecasts for Australia’s mobile broadband landscape indicate that 5G mobile subscriptions will see a CAGR of 12.6% between 2025 and 2030. This growth will have positive implications for the M2M/IoT market. The higher capacity, lower latency, and greater scalability of 5G connectivity will enhance M2M/IoT deployments across a range of sectors.

    Telecom analyst Srikanth Vaidya notes that evolving M2M/IoT use cases across industries will also stimulate adoption. Examples of these use cases include telehealth & remote diagnostics, smart retail stores, smart manufacturing, fleet management & logistics, smart cities & infrastructure, automation in agriculture, and cybersecurity-enhanced networks. Dedicated connectivity plans offered by telecommunications companies will further facilitate this growth.

    Government Support and Industry Initiatives

    In 2025, the Australian government, together with IoT Alliance Australia (IoTAA), launched a Labelling Scheme for Smart Devices. This initiative, backed by funding of up to AUD 1.7 million (USD 1.07 million), is designed to improve security and standards in the IT industry. It focuses specifically on M2M/IoT consumer smart devices, opening up new opportunities for telecommunications companies in this sector.

    Telstra is anticipated to dominate Australia’s M2M/IoT market in terms of subscriptions through to 2030. This is largely due to its versatile IoT/M2M data plans, which cater to both low data sensors and high-usage connected devices. Optus also provides a variety of IoT solutions, including telematics, connected cars, emergency lift phones replacing PSTN, and digital signage, all designed to streamline and enhance business processes.

    Conclusion

    Vaidya concludes that the increasing demand for IoT solutions and connectivity will bring about significant changes in Australia’s mobile services market. Operators providing dedicated M2M/IoT connectivity plans and services that cater to emerging use cases will be in a solid position to benefit from this trend.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the projected growth rate for M2M/IoT cellular connections in Australia by 2030?
    The projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is 8.7% from 2025 to 2030, with total connections expected to reach 22.1 million.

    What initiatives have been introduced to support the growth of M2M/IoT technologies in Australia?
    In 2025, the Australian government and IoT Alliance Australia (IoTAA) introduced a Labelling Scheme for Smart Devices, an initiative designed to enhance security and standards within the IT industry, particularly for M2M/IoT consumer smart devices.

    Which company is expected to lead the M2M/IoT market in Australia?
    Telstra is expected to lead in terms of subscriptions through 2030, mainly due to its flexible IoT/M2M data plans.

  • APAC Sees Rapid Growth in IoT and M2M Connections Amidst 5G Expansion

    APAC Sees Rapid Growth in IoT and M2M Connections Amidst 5G Expansion

    The growth of machine-to-machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) cellular connections in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region is anticipated to soar, with an annual growth rate of 9.1% projected from 2025 to 2030, ultimately reaching a staggering 1.3 billion connections by the end of the decade.

    This surge can largely be attributed to advancements in 5G technology, the expansion of digital infrastructure, and the increasing integration of IoT applications, predominantly in the developed markets of the region, as reported by GlobalData.

    5G Push Drives Massive Connectivity

    According to GlobalData’s Asia-Pacific Total Mobile Broadband Forecast (Q2 2025), 5G mobile subscriptions are expected to expand at a phenomenal pace of 11.4% annually from 2025 to 2030. The expansion of network coverage, particularly in established mobile markets, is fueling this trend. Countries like South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Australia are paving the way for 5G adoption, while regions like Hong Kong and China are poised to boast the highest 5G penetration rates by 2025.

    Kantipudi Pradeepthi, a Telecom Analyst at GlobalData, highlighted the monumental role of 5G networks, stating, “The ultra-low latency, high-bandwidth connectivity, and ability to connect vast numbers of devices crucial for M2M/IoT ecosystems will be pivotal for market growth over the forecast period. Developed markets, with their high 5G penetration and mature digital infrastructure, will undoubtedly lead in IoT adoption, resulting in increased M2M connections.”

    Sectoral Expansion: A Playground for Innovation

    The rising applications of IoT across diverse sectors—including manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, transportation, and security—coupled with ambitious digital infrastructure projects ranging from smart cities to smart buildings, are set to escalate M2M/IoT adoption in the region. Telecommunications companies are also stepping up with dedicated connectivity plans to cater to these burgeoning demands.

    For instance, PLDT in the Philippines is actively providing M2M/IoT solutions targeting smart city initiatives, smart stores, smart buildings, and smart manufacturing. In New Zealand, Spark is delivering IoT-connected mobility solutions focused on sectors like healthcare, agriculture, and transportation, emphasizing device management, cost efficiency, and security. Meanwhile, in India, Bharti Airtel offers a diverse range of M2M SIM cards, including industrial-grade, consumer-grade, embedded M2M SIMs, and eSIMs tailored to meet specific deployment requirements.

    New Opportunities on the Horizon

    Pradeepthi concluded that the escalating demand for high-speed connectivity and enterprise-grade IoT solutions is set to dramatically reshape the mobile landscape across the APAC region. This evolution represents a golden opportunity for telecommunications companies to explore new revenue streams and diversify their offerings—after all, who wouldn’t want to ride the wave of innovation?

    Questions & Answers

    What is driving the growth of M2M and IoT connections in APAC?
    The growth is mainly driven by advancements in 5G technology, expanding digital infrastructure, and the increasing applications of IoT ecosystems, particularly in developed countries within the region.

    Which countries are leading in 5G adoption?
    South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Australia are at the forefront of 5G adoption, with Hong Kong and China expected to achieve the highest penetration rates by 2025.

    How are telecommunications companies responding to this growth?
    Telecommunications companies are introducing diverse M2M and IoT solutions tailored for various sectors, providing dedicated connectivity plans to meet the demands of smart cities, healthcare, agriculture, and more, setting the stage for new revenue opportunities.

  • Sydney’s Data Centre Vacancy Rate Plummets to 5.2% in First Half of 2025!

    Sydney’s Data Centre Vacancy Rate Plummets to 5.2% in First Half of 2025!

    In a remarkable shift, Sydney’s data centre market is on the rise, evidenced by a drop in the vacancy rate from 9% to a striking 5.2%. This shift emphasizes the city’s growing stature as a regional hub for data centres, as highlighted in a recent report by Cushman and Wakefield. Even without significant increases in operational capacity during the first half of 2025, robust fundamentals are sustaining the market’s upward trajectory.

    Demand Surge Driven by Cloud Services and AI

    The report notes that sustained demand for cloud services and artificial intelligence (AI) workloads has been a key driver of this decline in vacancy rates. The development pipeline remains vibrant, with new players entering the data centre landscape. Notably, ISPT, a major real estate investment firm, has submitted plans for a 170MW data centre in North Ryde, reinforcing Sydney’s appeal as a strategic centre for data management.

    Major Investments Are Reshaping the Landscape

    Adding to the momentum, Macquarie Data Centres has initiated a deal to acquire a land parcel in Sydney valued at US$157 million, slated for a potential 150MW data centre campus. Meanwhile, Stack Infrastructure, with an eye on the future, is planning a substantial 450MW campus at Erskine Park, backed by an investment of US$405.3 million—one of the largest single-site developments in Sydney’s history. This isn’t just a case of numbers; it’s a multifaceted strategy where the data centre sector is becoming as enticing as a new flavor of bubble tea in downtown Sydney.

    Acquisitions Fuel Growth in Connectivity

    In a notable move, Partners Group has expanded its footprint by not only acquiring Digital Halo in Singapore but also GreenSquareDC in Australia for a hefty US$759 million. This investment signifies a commitment to establishing GreenSquareDC as a forward-thinking data centre platform, tailored to meet the burgeoning demands of hyperscalers and AI.

    Moreover, in the connectivity sector, Vocus Group is set to acquire TPG Telecom’s fibre infrastructure assets, alongside its Enterprise, Government, and Wholesale (EG&W) business. The Australian government has approved this US$3.42 billion acquisition, expected to finalize by year-end, marking a significant consolidation in the telecom landscape.

    Accelerating Cloud Adoption

    Cloud adoption continues to accelerate across industries in Australia. The Commonwealth Bank of Australia recently completed its migration to Amazon Web Services (AWS), heralding a new era of digital capabilities. Similarly, the Department of Defence has signed a five-year, US$324.71 million contract with Microsoft for cloud services, further solidifying partnerships within the tech ecosystem. CareSuper, a leading superannuation fund, is also transitioning its applications and data to Microsoft Azure.

    In conclusion, Sydney’s data centre market not only remains resilient but is also dynamically evolving, driven by strong demand, strategic investments, and an ongoing digital transformation across various sectors.

    Questions & Answers

    What has caused the decline in Sydney’s data centre vacancy rate?
    The sharp decline from 9% to 5.2% in vacancy rates is primarily driven by sustained demand for cloud services and AI workloads, reflecting a robust interest in data management solutions.

    What major developments are expected in Sydney’s data centre sector?
    Key developments include ISPT’s proposed 170MW data centre in North Ryde and Stack Infrastructure’s ambitious 450MW campus at Erskine Park, signaling significant investments in the region.

    How is cloud adoption changing in the Australian market?
    Cloud adoption is accelerating, as seen with the Commonwealth Bank’s migration to AWS and the Department of Defence’s substantial agreement with Microsoft, underscoring a broader trend of digital transformation in various sectors.

  • OTT services like Telegram, WhatsApp must be managed locally

    OTT services like Telegram, WhatsApp must be managed locally

    Over-the-top media services, including popular messaging apps like Telegram, need to be managed under the Law on Telecommunications, according to amendments to it proposed by the government.

    The Ministry of Information and Communications said OTT services could be considered direct substitutes for traditional communications like calling and texting, and popular apps like Zalo, Viber, Telegram, and WhatsApp come under this category.

    “There are currently no provisions in the law for managing them, and so there is no way to protect users and information safety and security.”

    The ministry also called for a level playing field for domestic and foreign businesses. Specifically, for OTT telecom services that collect fees, domestic providers need to be approved to do so, while international providers need to have commercial agreements with an approved domestic provider to do so, it proposed.

    Even for OTT telecom services that do not have fees, the ministry proposed that their providers still need to register with the information ministry. International, large-scale providers with service in Vietnam meanwhile must either have commercial agreements or place their representative offices in Vietnam to make sure they abide by local law.

    At a conference held Thursday to discuss the amendments, Vu Tu Thanh of the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council said OTT service providers have no connection with telecom providers.

    “For instance requiring Viber to sign an agreement with VNPT … We don’t know exactly what terms such an agreement would have,” Thanh said.

    Officials proposing the amendments yet said managing OTT services will ensure users’ protection and information security.

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  • SK Telecom to Help Upgrade Palau’s Communication Infrastructure

    SK Telecom to Help Upgrade Palau’s Communication Infrastructure

    SK Telecom (SKT) announced that its Vice Chairman Park Jung-ho and CEO Ryu Young-sang met with Surangel Whipps. Jr., the president of the Republic of Palau, to discuss cooperation to upgrade Palau’s communication infrastructure.

    SK Telecom also asked the Palauan government to support Busan’s bid to host the “World Expo 2030”.

    At the meeting, Vice Chairman Park Jung-ho said, “The World Expo 2030 Busan highlights the seriousness of the global climate change and the need for each country to take an active response. It will also serve as a great opportunity for Palau to experience Korea’s innovative technologies and methodologies to respond to climate change.”

    SKT CEO Ryu Young-sang also suggested cooperation with the Palauan government to upgrade Palau’s current 4G LTE infrastructure to 5G. “Based on SKT’s technologies and experience accumulated through the world’s first commercialization of 5G, we can work together to build 5G infrastructure in Palau,” said      Ryu Young-sang.

    According to SK’s press release, President Whipps showed great interest in SKT’s formidable 5G infrastructure built across Korea as well as other advanced technologies including AI, metaverse, IoT and cloud services. There was also discussion about renewable energy, another industry that SKT has much experience in.

    Meanwhile, in June this year, SKT has become the first Korean mobile operator to provide LTE roaming service to customers traveling to Palau, a popular tourist destination for Koreans.

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  • Huawei celebrates decade long Seeds for the Future to cultivate tech talent in Singapore

    Huawei celebrates decade long Seeds for the Future to cultivate tech talent in Singapore

    Global leading ICT provider Huawei today hosted the closing ceremony for Seeds for the Future, its flagship global CSR program which aims to engage and inspire local ICT talents through a study trip to China, and bridge communication between countries and cultures, as well as address the digital talent gap in Singapore.

    With cross-border limitations brought upon by the pandemic, Huawei substituted its China study trip with an eight-day online program. This program is designed as a Virtual Teaching Lane (VTL) between Singapore and China to help students in Singapore overcome travel restrictions brought about by the pandemic and continue their learning.

    The program provides students in Singapore with a deep dive into the latest developments in information and communications technologies (ICT), including cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT), and 5G, to truly immerse themselves in China’s traditional and modern culture. They also gained first-hand insights into China’s highly competitive digital economy, a pivotal aspect for Singapore’s future success.

    This year marks the 10th anniversary of the program in Singapore. In July 2021, Huawei announced, Seeds for the Future Program 2.0, where the company plans to invest US$150 million in digital talent development over the next five years globally. To date, nearly 200 Singapore students have joined the program and have become Seeds Alumni.

    Mr Foo Fang Yong, CEO of Huawei International, spoke about the importance of grooming talent to shape the digital future. “We are proud to help bridge this divide by supporting local talents through our Seeds of the Future program. This year also marks Huawei’s 20th anniversary in Singapore, I hope that this program will revert to a physical one next year for a wholly immersive experience. In the meantime, we will continue to work with the local government, our partners, and the institutes of higher learning through our dedicated curriculum, training, and leadership programs as well as collaborations to further cultivate and grow local talent as we train them to become the leaders of tomorrow.”

    The Seeds for the Future program is open to all outstanding undergraduates/graduates from universities or polytechnics with a strong interest in ICT industry and China. Students who have recommendations from their university or polytechnics, IMDA SG:D Scholarship Winners or IMDA recommended students will be shortlisted for the program.

    Scaling beyond local boundaries with cross-cultural learning 

    To further boost resources, Huawei also launched a wider range of courses including the latest Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) development, Android APP development, TECH4ALL sessions, and entrepreneurship training this year. Participants also explored various learning opportunities via Huawei exhibition hall live visits, live Chinese cultural sightseeing, pre-recorded visits, and live Q&A sessions with growing companies.

    To continue the learning journey, all Seed Alumni will also be granted access to The Smart Urban Co-Innovation Lab @ East Coast which brings together Grassroots Organisations, schools, and businesses in East Coast to offer better jobs, more opportunities for collaboration and co-creating of solutions for the community and businesses, as well as equip students and working adults with future-ready skills.

    The closing ceremony culminated with a panel discussion joined by industry experts including Mr Pang Yan, Associate Professor from the National University of Singapore, Ms Jessica Tan, MP of East Coast GRC and Seeds Alumni, Mr Yu Peng Fei, Associate Cybersecurity Specialist, GovTech, and Mr Ivan Low, Chief Strategy Officer of Huawei International, discussing the importance of developing local ICT talent, its challenges and Huawei’s role in expanding collaboration, and the exchange of resources, knowledge, and new ideas between Singapore and China.

    Strengthening local partnerships with the National University of Singapore 

    At the closing ceremony, Huawei also announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National University of Singapore Business Analytics Centre (NUS BAC), jointly formed by the NUS School of Computing and NUS Business School, as part of its commitment to nurture talent and upskill students to help Singapore fill the talent gap in the technology sector.

    This collaboration aims to empower NUS students and researchers, giving them the opportunity to tap into Huawei’s expertise and resources in ICT technology, Big Data, Cloud Computing, and software development. The students in the NUS Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) programme can also look forward to capstone internship opportunities with Huawei and its partners.

    In addition, NUS BAC will organize a Huawei-NUS analytics innovation challenge for students and researchers in the developer community to create innovative solutions for problem statements based on realistic business challenges from Huawei and its partners.

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  • Inmarsat launches ELERA to power IoT and critical connectivity

    Inmarsat launches ELERA to power IoT and critical connectivity

    Inmarsat has unveiled Inmarsat ELERA; a global narrowband network that is ideally suited to the rapidly evolving world of the Internet of Things (IoT) and for global mobility customers, including aviation, maritime, governments and select enterprises.

    “ELERA is perfectly suited to the needs of the connected IoT world,” said Rajeev Suri, CEO, Inmarsat. “Global reach, extraordinary resilience, faster speeds, smaller and lower cost terminals are all part of ensuring that we remain ahead of others in meeting the needs of our customers.”

    “ELERA is a further sign of a company with true momentum and one that is delivering new innovations and strong performance,” continued Suri. “I expect that Inmarsat will grow strongly in 2021 compared to the previous year, and that growth will span most of our business units. Our progress was evident in the first half, where we saw strong growth in revenue and EBITDA and robust cash flow. We have sharpened our strategy to focus on driving growth, accelerate decision making, launch new innovations, and are creating a more commercially focused, customer-centric culture.”

    ELERA builds on Inmarsat’s #1 position in Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) and will be a springboard for innovation, unlocking, accelerating and scaling pioneering use cases on land, at sea and in the air. Its foundation is Inmarsat’s world-class L-band network and incorporates new innovations ranging from higher speeds to smaller, low-cost terminals and [the previously announced] Inmarsat-6 satellites, the first of which (I-6 F1) is scheduled to launch before the end of the year.

    Coming just 14 days after Inmarsat announced ORCHESTRA, the world’s first network to combine GEO, LEO and 5G into one harmonious global communications solution, ELERA underlines Inmarsat’s strategic focus on the global mobility segment of satellite communications. It is also a signal of a company with momentum, delivering major technological innovations and growth.

    The unique capabilities of ELERA, combined with Inmarsat’s superior spectrum and the ideally suited orbital position of its satellite networks, will make it the essential catalyst for new IoT use cases, across everything from autonomous transport and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to industrial and agricultural IoT applications.

    ELERA is built on Inmarsat’s market-leading L-band network, which already delivers the world’s most reliable and flexible global connectivity service with unique resilience in all conditions and full global redundancy. It supports everything from worldwide maritime and aviation safety services and humanitarian missions to IoT applications across agritech, transportation and utilities, among many others.

    The new innovations that the company is investing in to bring to market in the near future include spectrum management technology to deliver L-band speeds up to 1.7Mbps, the smallest footprint, low cost L-band terminal and two new L-band satellites, which are the largest and most sophisticated commercial communication satellites ever created.

    The new spectrum management capabilities (known as Carrier Aggregation) being incorporated into the ELERA network will deliver the fastest speeds globally available to L-band customers, far outstripping the capabilities of any other worldwide L-band network.

    Live customer trials in commercial aviation are scheduled to start during the course of 2022 and this technology will be rolled out across a range of sector specific applications for Inmarsat’s mobility, government and IoT customers over the coming few years.

    ELERA will also see the creation of the smallest footprint, low cost terminal for L-band users, delivering the ideal framework for satcom IoT at scale, with supporting cloud-based management, for vertical sectors such as infrastructure, rail, logistics, mining, agriculture, government, maritime and aviation.

    Inmarsat is launching two new satellites to enhance the ELERA network. The I-6 satellites, the first of which is scheduled to launch at the end of 2021, are the largest and most sophisticated commercial communications satellites ever built.

    The L-band capacity on each I-6 satellite will be substantially greater than Inmarsat’s 4th generation spacecraft and, among other enhancements, they will deliver 50% more capacity per beam; meaning that much more data can be carried over the same geographical area, in addition to unlimited beam routing flexibility.

    ELERA will also deliver a major extension to Inmarsat’s portfolio of voice-enabled devices, bringing new capabilities and innovations to hundreds of thousands of customers. This initiative represents our commitment to voice service innovation and underlines the company’s long-term commitment to the handheld voice services over satellite market.

    “ELERA is the exciting vision of how Inmarsat is planning to transform the capabilities offered to IoT and mobility customers for years to come and confirms our long-term commitment to L-band services. We will be sharing further detail on these innovations with our partner community in the coming months and continue our programme of announcements as we achieve major milestones.” said Rajeev Suri, CEO, Inmarsat.

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  • The rise of location-based advertising in a digitalized world

    The rise of location-based advertising in a digitalized world

    With the rise of IoT and connected devices as companies innovate to drive profitable growth, location data is becoming an increasingly important asset across myriad industries such as retail and logistics, where consumers are reached out to based on location data to create enhanced customer experiences.

    Compounded by the pandemic, there has been a widespread interest in harnessing location data as countries fight to contain the spread of the virus through contact tracing. In many countries worldwide, telecom operators have been sharing aggregated location data with the health authorities to help them access the effectiveness of prevailing measures. Countries such as China and South Korea are even using mobile data locations to track the location of quarantined individuals.

    Dubbed the backbone of connectivity across industries during this pandemic, the telecommunications industry has been witnessing heightened traffic and has amassed vast location data that can add real value internally and externally in a digitalized world.

    Globally, the location-based services market in APAC will experience the highest growth in the coming years. Of which, location-based advertising (LBA) accounts for a large part of this market across all regions.

    According to the Location Based Marketing Association (LBMA), the public’s perception of location data now goes beyond selling to include raising public health awareness as governments rely on location data during this pandemic. In Asia-Pacific (APAC) for instance, 79% of surveyed companies viewed location-based services ad targeting data as valuable. Of the location-based technologies, APAC utilized Bluetooth technology the most, followed by beacon technologies, Wi-Fi and GPS.

    As e-commerce is beginning to replace more brick-and-mortar, and as we’re recording an increase in smartphone penetration along with a more robust app landscape as businesses embrace digital transformation, the location-based market will continue to note an upward trend.

    The popularity of social media by consumers has also contributed to LBS across all industries in recent years. In the retail industry, for instance, geofencing has been a popular marketing strategy to drive customer loyalty through mobile apps. Businesses can present ads, promotions and coupons based on where their consumers are geographically located.

    With the rapid digitalization across business verticals, progressive businesses are recognizing the increased value of combining both location and timing to support more advanced marketing strategies and new market opportunities, utilizing real-time location-based marketing to effectively reach out to consumers. According to Research and Market, the global LBA market is expected to reach US$163.5 billion by 2026, representing a CAGR of 18% between 2020 and 2026.

    Location-based marketing outperforms traditional marketing methods. In a saturated or highly competitive market, for instance, operators can leverage real-time messaging to upsell or cross-sell products or services, sending promotional messages to subscribers when they are near or enter a specific store. Using geo-targeting, well-timed advertising campaigns not only facilitates enhanced service delivery but also yields higher conversions, greater success and ultimately, maximum return on investments. This is also one way to drive consumers away from competition to gain a larger market share.

    With plans to scale as digital services become more intertwined in our lives than ever before, Uberall recently announced an acquisition of a location marketing company in the US to further scale its businesses.

    Driven by the same agenda, Telenor Pakistan announced a partnership with Starcom earlier this month to monetize postpaid and prepaid customers’ data using location-based marketing. Currently, Pakistan does not have a data protection law.

    Location-based advertising is effective throughout a consumer’s journey, from purchase, to engagement and retention. Needless to say, location is just one factor, albeit an important one. Augmenting location with human-centric data, such as consumption patterns, comes into play in advanced analytics to tailor personalized services experiences.

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  • Inmarsat and Skylo collaborate on world’s first commercial narrowband IoT over satellite solution

    Inmarsat and Skylo collaborate on world’s first commercial narrowband IoT over satellite solution

    Inmarsat will provide Skylo, a satellite-based narrow-band (NB) IoT solution company the satellite capacity backbone to deliver its IoT solutions for connecting machines and sensors.

    The agreement pairs Inmarsat’s exceptionally reliable global satellite network with a complete, easy-to-use IoT solution that provides even the most remotely located application users with real-time, actionable insights; helping improve efficiencies, increase profits, improve sustainability, and save lives.

    The solution is available now in India through a partnership with in-country partner BSNL and expansion plans will be announced later this year.

    “The most effective IoT solutions require a truly resilient and flexible network that can scale as demand grows,” said Rajeev Suri, Inmarsat Chief Executive Officer.

    “Inmarsat’s industry-leading L-band network provides a unique capability for enabling the billions of connected IoT devices in India and across the world that are being deployed at an extraordinary speed.  We are delighted to work with Skylo to provide the IoT fabric that matches their ambition.”

    “Skylo makes simple, reliable IoT connectivity available to everyone at disruptively affordable rates,” commented Skylo CEO and co-founder Parth Trivedi.

    “Even more attractive than a sharp increase in adoption due to low barrier-to-entry is deploying critical new business capabilities as machine data becomes readily available and accessible. Our global IoT connectivity fabric makes way for thousands of life-changing applications — from managing vaccine efficacy during delivery to advancing precision farming, to provide early warnings in the event of natural disasters. We look forward to expanding globally and making our platform available to small and large enterprises, companies deploying new sensors, systems integrators, distributors, Governments and OEMs.”

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  • Singtel and Hyundai Motor to develop Singapore’s smart manufacturing and mobility technologies

    Singtel and Hyundai Motor to develop Singapore’s smart manufacturing and mobility technologies

    Hyundai Motor Company and Singtel today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on a range of ventures to support smart manufacturing, connectivity for electric vehicle battery subscription service. The MOU follows Hyundai Motor Group’s announcement in October 2020 that it is setting up a new state-of-the-art Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Centre Singapore (HMGICS) to conduct studies on future mobility and explore innovative solutions, services and disruptive technologies to revolutionize commuters’ transport experience.

    Hyundai Motor will combine its expertise in developing innovative automotive and manufacturing solutions with Singtel’s capabilities in 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), and next-generation info-communications technologies and solutions to develop Industry 4.0 advanced digital solutions to   transform the way vehicles are currently manufactured. The parties will develop and pilot a 5G-enabled smart factory use case for HMGICS’ intelligent manufacturing platform, and potentially scaling it up for deployment across Hyundai’s manufacturing plants globally.

    “Hyundai is delighted to work with Singtel, implementing next-generation communication solutions that will enhance mobility experiences for our customers,” said Hong Bum Jung, Senior Vice President of HMGICS at Hyundai Motor Company. “We also hope to explore future innovative solutions and business opportunities with Singtel to help realise Singapore’s Smart Nation vision.”

    Hyundai and Singtel will also work together on an IoT communications solution for the batteries powering Hyundai’s electric vehicles (EVs) in Singapore. The IoT system enables Hyundai to monitor the telemetry, or automatic data transmission, of the batteries’ real-time status and performance.

    The data-driven insights can enhance the EVs’ reliability, advancing Singapore’s EV ecosystem and Smart Nation vision of connected and sustainable mobility solutions.

    Andrew Lim, Managing Director, Government and Large Enterprise, Group Enterprise at Singtel said, “Our collaboration with Hyundai Motor is timely given the Singapore Government’s decision to phase out internal combustion engine vehicles by 2040 and the recent Budget announcement on new policies to encourage more Singaporeans to switch to driving electric vehicles. By pushing the boundaries of what is possible with 5G, IoT and other advanced technologies, we also want to build up Singapore’s smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 capabilities and strengthen its innovation ecosystem.”

  • ZTE launches i5GC to support private 5G networks for vertical industries

    ZTE launches i5GC to support private 5G networks for vertical industries

    The solution introduces 5G capabilities such as large bandwidth, low latency, high reliability and multiple connections into various industries, and integrates technologies such as AI, IoT, cloud computing, big data and MEC to enable the digitalisation of whole industries and build fully-connected intelligent private 5G networks for vertical industries.

    At present, public 5GC is oriented to consumer applications, so it cannot meet industry users’ ultra-high requirements for security, latency, reliability, network control rights, energy consumption and usage environment. ZTE i5GC addresses this by deeply integrating and optimising 5GC functions. It uses 2U general servers to achieve the integration of multiple network functions (NF) and a plug-and-play one-stop deployment mode to achieve minimal space, minimal energy consumption and minimal operation and maintenance (O&M).

    This solution provides non-professional industry users with rapid and accurate 5G network access deployment and excellent service experience. In addition, ZTE i5GC can be flexibly customised according to a user’s diversified requirements for security, traffic processing and autonomy, and provide different function combinations and deployment forms for different scenarios. For instance, the user plane function (UPF) is deployed to the edge, traffic is forwarded nearby, and user data is locally managed. In addition, ZTE i5GC employs a 3GPP service-based architecture (SBA) to seamlessly interconnect with a 5G public network. It can integrate third-party multi-access edge-computing (MEC) applications through open interfaces to achieve flexible expansion and rapid iteration of edge applications, so as to explore and breed 5G killer applications in the vertical field.

    Towards the construction of business-grade 5G networks, ZTE has implemented in-depth 5G applications for use in vertical fields such as mines, medical treatments and ports. For example, for a 5G smart mine project, ZTE uses i5GC to deploy a complete set of 5G networks underground, meeting the mine’s compact space and explosion-proofing requirements, and achieving full coverage from key 5G networks. ZTE i5GC will continue to focus on industry projects, promote the understanding of industry requirements, work with enterprises and operators to build a 5G application ecosystem, help expand the ‘blue ocean market’ opportunity for 5G for business, and drive 5G large-scale commercial use and value monetisation.

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  • StarHub and Software AG partner for new 5G IoT platform service

    StarHub and Software AG partner for new 5G IoT platform service

    As Internet of Things (IoT) plays an increasingly important role in driving digital economies and business success, Singapore’s StarHub and Germany-based Software AG have teamed up to offer an end-to-end 5G-ready IoT service to help organizations in Singapore accelerate IoT implementations on a massive scale.

    Through this partnership, StarHub is proud to offer 5G IoT platform service, a new one-stop solution that provides IoT connectivity including StarHub’s 5G, device management, professional services to integrate existing or new systems, and managed services to run the entire IoT environment for any organization.

    As a comprehensive platform, the 5G IoT platform service intelligently connects, manages, and monitors millions of IoT devices deployed for different applications, creates customizable analytics, and provides APIs to integrate with existing and new systems. This will help organizations to accelerate their IoT implementations. It is offered to companies as a service on a subscription model, allowing full flexibility, instant scalability, and financial prudence.

    Charlie Chan, Chief of Enterprise Business Group at StarHub, said: “Amid digital disruption and rapid changes in the economy, StarHub’s call remains the same – Our customers are transforming to remain globally competitive, and we want to be our customers’ enabling partner of choice when it comes to both core connectivity and innovative managed solutions. We are pleased to collaborate with Software AG to provide an advanced, 5G-ready IoT solution that helps our customers across multiple industries including property, retail, and transport, speed up or scale IoT implementations to boost productivity and innovation as well as realize cost-saving.”

    Bernd Gross, CTO of Software AG added: “Data is so fundamentally important for businesses to succeed in the future that they must master how to collect and analyze it if they are to be competitive. 5G brings more speed, lower latency, and support for a massive amount of endpoints, which means that data can flow between the edge and the core of any organization. Once you know what’s happening in every part of your business, you can understand how to make it better – and that is the opportunity we will bring to customers alongside StarHub.”

    StarHub’s 5G IoT platform service allows organizations to aggregate all of its existing IoT applications and connected devices for a real-time, clear overview on a single aggregator platform, without a need for platform migration. New IoT applications and connected devices can also be integrated easily with this aggregator platform. With that, enterprise customers can acquire and analyze massive volumes of data from its existing independent IoT systems to gain new, accurate, in-depth understanding of how well their assets operate, in a consolidated manner.

    In the case of a public transport operator, StarHub’s 5G IoT platform service can provide real-time vehicle tracking, automated inspection of the vehicle condition and predict potential issues of the vehicles to take precautionary measures, improve fleet operational efficiency and reduce downtime. With additional data such as weather, traffic conditions, the operations director can view and analyze these insights from the same dashboard and act accordingly to optimize the fleet.

    For a facility management company, it can use StarHub’s 5G IoT platform service to develop smart building maintenance strategies to serve building owners better, differentiate their services from competition or improves operational efficiencies. This is because the service can bring together separate IoT systems that manage different areas of the facility – electricity consumption, rubbish bin usage, washroom cleanliness, footfall, and more, presenting a complete picture of all IoT data. With the right information and context about what is going on in the building, the facility manager can pinpoint issues and trace faults quickly or carry out preventive maintenance responsibly.

  • Indian tea chain Chaayos raises capital for expansion

    Indian tea chain Chaayos raises capital for expansion

    Sunshine Teahouse, the parent of Indian tea chain Chaayos, has raised US$21.5 million in a new funding round.

    The fundraising, led by US firm Think Investments and including $3 million of venture debt from InnoVen Capital, will assist the firm to increase its store count to 300 within three to four years.

    “We will deploy the capital to expand our store network, hire a few more senior people, and invest more in technology,” Chaayos founder and CEO Nitin Saluja said in an article published by Livemint.

    Tea chain Chaayos is noted for its use of an IoT-enabled teamaker, called Chai Monk.

    “We have structured ourselves as a neo-retail business, which is a traditional retail business heavily leveraged on technology,” said Saluja. “The entire technology stack that Chaayos runs on has been developed in-house and we have filed for multiple patents as well”.

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  • IoT-enabled smart barista coffee machines set for SEA roll out

    IoT-enabled smart barista coffee machines set for SEA roll out

    Noble Vici Group is planning to deploy smart IoT-enabled self-service barista coffee machines throughout Southeast Asia.

    The V-More Xpress machines perform real-time analytic data collection through the firm’s IoT platform and connect customers to the machines online.

    The firm has been developing its own ecosystem from e-commerce to IoT infrastructure for the past two years while tapping on internal resources and capital to expedite the installation of smart IoT-enabled barista machines across Southeast Asia within the next 18 months.

    “We aim to be the fastest player to deploy these self-service machines in Asia,” said NVGI CEO Sir Eldee Tang. “NVGI is targeting uplisting to the mainboard in the US near the end of 2020. We intend to further strengthen the mix of the management team in preparation for the future prospect ahead.”

    In conjunction with the latest round of funding initiatives, NVGI has begun the rollout of its smart barista coffee machines, partnering with Barista Uno, which sells roasted coffee sourced from Java. V-More Xpress will be able to monitor the consumption of each machine to ensure operating uptime.

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