Nokia Networks has launched its IoT connectivity solution for LTE core and radio networks which makes existing LTE networks IoT ready. Operators including those in Southern Africa can now prepare their current networks for the business opportunities of the IoT era and related machine-to-machine (M2M) traffic. Following an easy 3-step approach, operators can smoothly migrate their LTE core network to IoT overlay. Starting with subscriber data management they can move on to gateways and mobility management. This stepwise approach allows them to flexibly migrate their core domains so they can tackle the mix of mobile broadband and M2M traffic in a cost efficient way while keeping operational impact at minimal level.
Today’s mobile networks are primarily optimized for smartphone traffic. As IoT applications will bring new requirements for the network infrastructure such as the number and type of connected devices and traffic patterns, operators can now prepare their networks for the corresponding shift in services and traffic. The new IoT connectivity solution consists of two elements: Nokia’s Core for IoT and its enhanced Smart Scheduler for LTE radio.
Benefits of Nokia’s Core for IoT at a glance:
* Drives down total cost of ownership (TCO) for IoT solutions on operators’ networks and allows for a business mix of high Average Revenue Per Connection (ARPC) and low ARPC* M2M traffic
* Improves operational efficiency by about 35% compared to legacy networks and provides 40% better CPU utilization e.g. for smart meter traffic
* Open APIs allow for real-time data mining, service control and integration, making it much easier to ensure network optimization and service enablement for IoT applications
* Programmability enables operators to cope with a multitude of applications and proactively reduce signalling traffic, e.g. by adjusting the timer value for service based paging for connected cars
Nokia’s enhanced Smart Scheduler in a nutshell:
* In addition to optimizing LTE and TD-LTE cell capacity and smartphone user experience, it will unleash the IoT potential of today’s 4G networks
* With self-adapting algorithms in Flexi Base Stations, it adapts to the IoT device traffic profile, which will become more relevant with the increasing variety of IoT use cases from stationary metering applications to demanding vehicle-to-infrastructure communications
* It reduces signalling load in the network, enhances responsiveness of the service and lowers power consumption of the IoT modem
* It improves connection quality even at the cell edge with minimized impact on network capacity
Dustin Kehoe, Head of Telecom Research and Practice Lead, IDC, said: “LTE will be the technology of choice for M2M and IoT applications, as it provides the robust connectivity and flexibility to support the mix of high and low data rates needed for M2M and IoT traffic. And it does all that very cost-effectively. However, for LTE to thrive in the IoT world, operators will need to address economies of scale as well as IoT-specific security demands.”
Michael Clever, Head of Mobile Broadband Core Cluster at Nokia Networks, said: “While IoT represents a major growth opportunity for operators, they need to prepare their networks well. Nokia’s IoT connectivity solution is a key building block required to efficiently manage the related M2M traffic. A secure connectivity layer will then open up further opportunities for management and application platforms, as well as analytics and user services.”
Did you know?
* GSMA industry estimates indicate that there will be at least 1 billion cellular M2M connections needed for the IoT by 2020 (Infographic: Internet of Things: The evolution of M2M © GSMA Intelligence 2015)
* The thousands of IoT applications can be divided into the following verticals: connected car & fleet, public safety & security, connectivity & IT, home & consumer, smart city, retail & services, medical, health & wellness, utilities & environment and industry. And they can be further split into multiple application domains and individual applications.
* LTE-M modules will be 80% less complex than standard LTE modules, and highly cost competitive when it comes to connecting billions of things and devices with battery lives of more than10 years, enabling a myriad of use cases that no other pre-5G technology can match.