Following recent updates to its Impact IoT platform, Nokia has created a worldwide IoT network grid (Wing) as a service for multinational companies with IoT deployments.
Dubbed ‘Wing’, the new network supposedly provides connectivity for IoT devices like connected cars or connected freight containers as they move across geographical borders.
The technology will be offered as a managed service, with the aim of reducing the complexity for enterprises that would otherwise be required to sign agreements with multiple technology providers.
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Wing full service
In a statement, Nokia said connectivity across borders is enabled by intelligent switching between cellular and non-cellular networks.
So a shipping container linked by satellite while at sea, for example, could switch to being connected by a cellular network near a port.
In addition to connectivity, Wing will provide device management, security and analytics services.
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Powered by Impact
The network will be underpinned by Nokia’s Impact IoT platform, which will handle the subscription management for eSIMs to ensure that any connected assets are configured to a local mobile network as they cross borders between countries.
Impact, short for ‘Intelligent Management Platform for All Connected Things’, was first launched by Nokia in June 2016.
The updated version, expected to be available in the second quarter of 2017, aims to assist service providers, enterprise customers and government agencies to build and deploy new IoT services faster, in areas including smart parking, smart lighting and connected cars.
Nokia expects to roll out Wing in the third quarter of 2017, offering it via telco customers as a ‘white label’ service, or sold directly by Nokia to larger multinationals, according to ZDNet.
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“An innovative approach to IoT enablement”
Nokia is hoping to expand its customer base into the enterprise market with this launch.
The company’s head of global services, Igor Leprince, believes Wing is the answer to cross-border connectivity challenges.
Leprince said: “IoT connectivity as a managed service is an answer for enterprises to the current IoT deployments that are hampered by the patchwork of business agreements to connect devices around the world.
“Nokia WING will provide one global IoT grid. We cannot do this alone, and we are reaching out to communication service providers across the globe to collaborate with us so that we can extend the benefits of the connected world to more industries.”
Commenting on the launch, Alexandra Rehak, head of Ovum’s IoT Practice, said Nokia is taking an “innovative approach to IoT enablement.”
“The complexity of IoT deployment, service development and business models makes it imperative for market participants to play to their strengths and build long-term, flexible partnerships. Nokia’s managed IoT service offering fits well with this requirement.
“The new offering leverages Nokia’s broad portfolio of technologies and strong expertise in network design and management, and should open up new business opportunities for operator customers and large enterprises alike. It offers a new approach to helping service providers extend their existing network and partnership agreements and quickly address new markets while focusing on their core competencies.”
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