IoT ecosystem needed to ensure growth, with security remaining a top concern
SÃO PAULO – Carriers should look at partnering with other companies to build an ecosystem to jump into the fast-growing “internet of things” market. According to Craig Wigginton, global telecom sector leader at Deloitte, telcos can capture the value on IoT ecosystem.
“Some of them are starting early just in the connectivity layer, but others are building platforms, consortium and alliances to start exploiting opportunities around IoT,” the executive said in a video interview with RCR Wireless News.
The opinion is similar to what Zaima Milazzo, new services director at Algar, said during a panel at Futurecom 2016. Milazzo noted carriers are still figuring out how to make money with “internet of things” projects. “We need to partner with other companies to build an ecosystem in which each player cooperates,” she said.
Wigginton stressed the importance of not jumping into the space alone. A recent Deloitte survey found home and automotive markets are key trends in the consumer space, though there is also a lot of momentum on enterprise and industrial IoT.
Embratel, which is owned by America Movil, said it’s building a platform designed to connect IoT devices. The company told RCR Wireless News the platform is set to be released in the first quarter of 2017, and will replace a third-company middleware the carrier uses today. Embratel said it’s focused on providing solutions to the retail and smart cities markets.
Another concern for the IoT space is related to security. F5 Networks manager Michel Araújo explained risks are still neglected by users and vendors. The company said Brazil is No. 4 in the world in terms of IoT security attacks.
