MTN and ZTE launch Machine-to-Machine/Internet of Things platform

Telecommunications, enterprise and consumer technology solutions firm ZTE Corporation, has launched an Internet of Things (IoT) platform in Africa with mobile operator and ICT provider, MTN Group, according to a statement by ZTE.

This platform will adopt some of the cutting-edge technologies best suited to developing markets, like Zambia, and will bring flexible connectivity for devices within the region.

In addition the two organizations have lanched a global machine to machine (M2M) SIM card that will provide customers with a flat rate for all M2M activity across MTN’s network in Africa.

Predictions stand that by the year 2020,  50 billion devices will be connected around the world as the Internet of Things (IoT) and M2M operations grow.

This is a welcome move  by both organizatons as the world gets smarter. It’s really about who prepares for the IoT blowout the first. The platform will be of great use to more than just production industries where we see the most M2M adaptations for faster work processes but also in homes and other work places.

The statement by ZTE also says that in the Middle East and Africa (MEA), IoT and M2M technology will drive business growth in sectors such as banking, transportation, energy, and public services through smart cities.

MTN Group has developed a clear strategy to contribute to this growth, as well as an extensive range of IoT/M2M products and services from connectivity, managed connectivity and end-to-end solutions, designed to provide benefits for businesses, government and consumers.

Zhao Peng, VP of ZTE Corporation, said “Working across such a wide range of vertical markets, from automotive and healthcare to construction and utilities requires a level of flexibility and scalability that only a cloud-based platform can deliver,” said. “The new IoT platform provided by ZTE, which is live in South Africa and able to connect and manage machines across MTN’s African footprint, provides a dedicated network to connect devices and systems.”

Mteto Nyati, MTN Group Chief Enterprise Officer, “At MTN, we are particularly excited by the opportunity that the IoT platform creates for African enterprises, entrepreneurs and developers, as they now have the means to enable and inspire growth in their markets. In addition to this, the platform and its associated integrated network environment will enable MTN to introduce application services with the potential to enhance the socio-economic environment in South Africa and throughout the rest of the continent.”

This innovative partnership with ZTE to launch an IoT/M2M platform shows that MTN is standing by their slogan to be ‘everywhere you go’; connecting devices, people and eventually, the world.