Nokia is expanding on the IoT network grid it introduced for carriers earlier this year.
The Finnish company in February introduced a worldwide IoT network grid, dubbed WING, as a service to give traditional service provider customers and enterprises a one-stop-shop for all their IoT needs, across geographies. The effort combines connectivity from cellular networks, low-power wide-area networks (LPWAN), satellite and fixed communications like Wi-Fi and puts that all together into its IMPACT platform. Then, it sweetens the deal with things like management and security.
The full-service model includes provisioning, operations, security, billing and dedicated enterprise customer services from key operations command centers. Nokia IMPACT subscription management for eSIM will automatically configure connectivity to a communication service provider’s network as the assets cross geographic borders.
The model for the WING service allows for service providers to take what Nokia is offering and offer it as a white-labeled service as part of their own portfolio. It essentially enables Nokia to serve as a global MVNO for machine-to-machine communications.
This morning, Nokia unveiled WING market entry services, “a consultative offering” aimed at helping operators identify the best vertical market opportunities in their geographic areas and providing related applications and strategies to tap those markets quickly. Specifically, the service examines opportunities in nine IoT segments: connected car, healthcare, logistics and transport, smart cities, utilities, agriculture, retail, connected industry and smart homes and buildings.
Once services are deployed, Nokia offers provisioning, device management, operators, security, customer care and billing. The company also introduced Nokia TestHub, which is designed to help operators test their solutions and devices before deployments.
That testing can occur both in the lab and in the field.
“IoT deployments are complex, but with our help operators will be able to fast-track their entry into the market as we provide them not only with a read-to-go market and business model, but also with a preintegrated IoT infrastructure, complete service model and go-to-market support services,” said Friedrich Trawoeger, Nokia’s head of managed services, in a press release. “With our testing services we can ensure smooth launches for our customers, which are critical to maintaining great experience for their customers.”