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JT and Inmarsat have announced a partnership to deliver a new 'Internet of Things (IoT)' network.
It will combine Inmarsat’s existing satellite communication infrastructure and cellular data provided by JT. The companies say this will enable Inmarsat’s customers to access a global network from a single provider to deliver the next generation of IoT technology.
JT SIM cards now power over 1.4 million devices worldwide. The majority of these are connected to the Internet of Things – a global network of ‘smart’ devices sending and receiving data, from heart-rate monitors in Canada to payment systems in East Africa.
Tom Noel, Managing Director of JT International, (pictured) said: “We are delighted to be supporting Inmarsat in rolling out a global connectivity solution, to support its IoT network. With over 600 direct roaming partners, we can offer a multi-network communications solution that spans almost every country in the world, and our M2M (Machine-to-Machine) SIM solution is purpose built to deliver the connectivity required for IoT. We are looking forward to taking this partnership with Inmarsat forward and continuing to service our customers with high-speed, reliable connectivity, wherever they are in the world.”
Paul Gudonis, President of Inmarsat Enterprise, said: “This is a hugely important partnership for Inmarsat. Integrating a global cellular solution with our satellite communication network means that we can provide all of the connectivity necessary for an IoT installation, to anywhere in the world. This gives us a much more powerful offering when we bring our IoT solutions to the market, as it means our customers only need to liaise with one provider, not go to one company for satellite connectivity and another for cellular data.”
In the first demonstration of the transformative potential of a global IoT network, JT and Inmarsat have worked with Actility to establish a smart city initiative in Kigali, Rwanda. The satellite-enabled, city-wide IoT network utilises JT’s M2M SIM cards within Actility’s base stations to create the connectivity gateways required for IoT applications. This connectivity solution has enabled a variety of large scale IoT projects to be deployed in Kigali, including a smart bus project, real-time monitoring of air pollution level, precision farming and a connected surveillance system.
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