Operators’ IoT investments are moving them up the value chain

Mobile Network Operators have significantly stepped up their IoT Investments over the last six months, with at least eight or more operators involved in one or more IoT investments, mergers or acquisitions, according to research house, Analysys Mason.
The recent spate of Operator-investments follows a flurry of evidence that demonstrate the social and economic value of the IoT, and the crucial role operators will play in providing connectivity across the globe.
Analysys Mason have reported that Operators’ investments are spread over a number of different verticals, including health, fleet tracking an automotive. Yet it is the latter of these three verticals in which operators have been particularly active over the last few months, with AT&T, Vodafone & Deutsche Telekom all stepping up their efforts to capture the connected car market.
Nonetheless, the wide range of different verticals in which operators have invested, reflects the many different sectors and industries that they can serve. As the IoT is in early stages, it is understandable that some operators may choose to concentrate their efforts on a limited number of verticals. However It is well known that as the IoT develops there will be many different services and solutions that will require wide-area connectivity, which can only be provided by Operators – the recent rise in IoT investments is a sign that Operators are entering a transition whereby they expand their areas of specialisation.