ZTE and MTN have formed a partnership to bring an Internet of Things (IoT) platform to Africa.
The platform has launched in South Africa, allowing devices and systems to interconnect via a dedicated network. MTN claims that the deployment will provide “cutting-edge technologies suited to developing markets, bringing flexible connectivity for devices in the region”.
Launching alongside the platform is a global M2M SIM card, which grants subscribers a blanket rate for all M2M-related usage across MTN’s African operations. MTN is also aiming to use the M2M platform as a means of launching application services.
ZTE vice president Zhao Peng said: “Working across such a wide range of vertical markets requires a level of flexibility and scalability that only a cloud-based platform can deliver.”
MTN has identified IoT and M2M technology as key drivers of growth in the Middle East and Africa, across sectors such as finance, energy and transport via smart city development. The operator has partnered with several organisations on new smart city initiatives.
Similarly, ZTE has focused on cloud, big data and smart cities to help bolster its IoT capabilities, and the move appears to be paying off: the vendor reported a 42% increase in net profit for the first quarter.
