The IoT is taking shape as truly commercial solutions emerge from lab and field trials. Why is connectivity driving this shift?
The internet of things is a wonderful term but it’s also somewhat opaque. What does it really mean? Who benefits? Why? We often talk and write about the potential for IoT applications, but simply referring to IoT in general is becoming increasingly unhelpful. Instead, the industry is converging around very specific IoT offers, applications and use cases.
At AfricaCom, we saw many of these ideas crystallising into deployable solutions from which people can benefit. Vendors are introducing water management, agricultural innovations, field monitoring solutions and more. They are proliferating and are no longer simply interesting proof-of-concept ideas, but rather practical, working solutions that can be deployed today.
This is wonderful, because it serves to emphasise the point that, once data connectivity is enabled, it can support a multitude of use cases that deliver clear and identifiable benefits. It’s also essential, as it will, through time, help to reduce costs.
Connectivity is multi-purpose and supports all kinds of business models. Future coverage planning must reflect this. While it’s useful to talk about connecting people and communities, it’s clear that we must also embrace the concept of connecting devices and services when we are thinking about the benefits of deploying in remote and rural areas.
Indeed, this has been a key driver for Vivada and why we are so eager to build an ecosystem of IoT application and service providers that can deliver solutions across the infrastructure that we deploy. The more the better, in our opinion. So, if you have an interesting data-driven solution, why not get in touch and join our community?
