Airtel launches unified 5G Ready Platform ‘Airtel IoT’ to strengthen World of connected things

Airtel recently announced the launch of ‘Airtel IoT’ – an integrated platform that enables enterprises to utilise the power of the Internet of Things (IoT) and be prepared for the emerging era of connected things.

Airtel IoT is an end-to-end platform with the capability to connect and manage billions of devices and applications in a secure manner, said a statement from the company.  At its core is Airtel’s 5G Ready network that comes with the option to deploy NB-IoT, 4G, or 2G connectivity using Airtel e-SIM technology.

eSIM or Embedded Subscriber Identity Module, as the name suggests, is embedded directly into smartphones or any device in place of or along with a physical SIM card. eSIM in India was introduced back in 2018 with iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max.  eSIM supports all the regular networks such as 4G/ 5G, much like the regular physical SIM.

The eSIM stays on the device and cannot be physically pulled out or swapped like a physical SIM card. The embedded SIM, however, needs to be supported by a carrier or network to work. Having said that, one would not find any real-world difference between the service of eSIM and a regular physical SIM.

According to Ajay Chitkara, director and CEO – Airtel Business, “Enterprises have three key requirements for IoT. First, connectivity solutions that future proof their device and application investments. Second, the security of their data. And third, seamless integration with existing IT systems to make the IoT data actionable. Airtel IoT is built on these insights to massively simplify the IoT journeys of enterprises.”

Key Highlights:

• It has a flexible set of APIs to eliminate cumbersome integration journeys and allows enterprises to streamline the process of connecting, collecting, and analysing data through their existing workflow tools.
• Airtel’s telco-grade Security helps enterprises ensure that their IoT data is safe and available in real-time for analytics and service delivery.

India’s cellular connectivity-based IoT market is forecasted to grow to Rs 10,000 cr by 2022, driven by connected cars and appliances, SMART factories and utilities, and other use cases. Airtel Business is the largest player in India’s B2B connectivity space and serves over 2500 large enterprises as well as one million medium and small enterprises, including startups.

Some Clients Who Are Already Using Airtel IoT Solutions

MG Motor, Pine Labs, Paytm, Kirloskar, BSES, Genus, and Kent are among the many businesses across Manufacturing, Logistics, Automobiles, BFSI, and Utilities that are already using Airtel’s IoT solutions.

Rajeev Chaba, President, and MD, MG Motor India, had this to say about Airtel IoT and how it is helping transform MG Motor, "With the help of Airtel IoT, we have been able to provide the customers with India’s first internet car having i-SMART technology and 60+ connected car features. Airtel IoT allows us to access real-time infotainment and telematics. The partnership seeks to provide best-in-class connected car technology to our customers”.

Other Companies that Are Offering Similar IoT Technology

Just today, Vi Business, the enterprise arm of Vodafone Idea Ltd announced its IoT portfolio with the launch of Integrated IoT solutions for enterprises. Under the Vi Integrated IoT Solutions portfolio, the Smart Infrastructure IoT solutions will connect with assets like heterogeneous machines, energy systems, and a range of applications like ERP, factory applications for industries.

The Smart Mobility IoT solutions will offer automotive OEMs, logistics, and associated industries with connected vehicle and fleet management solutions which are based on real-time vehicle and environmental parameters.