Tele2 taps IBM to bolster IoT business

Tele2 AB
Tele2 AB has tapped IBM to bolster its Internet of Things (IoT) business in Europe.

IBM will assist Tele2 AB for the implementation and lower the point of entry for new Internet of Things (IoT) projects and business models.

Tele2 will provide connectivity and related services. IBM will utilize its Watson IoT platform and Global Business Solutions (GBS) consulting to bring selected industry IoT offerings to market.

Tele2 will utilize Big Data analytics and cognitive capabilities to support its IoT offerings such as asset management, location based services, connected products and supply chain management.

The companies will offer a joint IoT Starter Kit to enable customers to start Internet of Things projects. The Starter Kit contains SIM cards and an integration into IBM Bluemix.

IBM will be responsible for the implementation, integration, cloud-based services and roll-out of the solutions.

Meanwhile, Tele2 AB will construct a new network tailored for the IoT covering the Greater Gothenburg area. This new network will give a chance to Tele2 IoT, its customers and partners to test, use and develop future business models and applications within the Internet of Things.

The network will be suited for applications that require lower bandwidth and will have many advantages, including that IoT linked devices will be able to survive for several years on the same battery and that the hardware priced lower than the ordinary cellular devices.

Tele2 AB has bagged a three-year contract for the connectivity business of 1-Fleet Alliance, a grouping of 17 telematics service providers in Europe. 1-Fleet Alliance has more than 24,000 customers with 403,000 tracking units.

Tele2, which won the IoT deal over 9 other companies competing for the Europe-wide business, said it expects to deliver more than 150,000 SIM cards to enable the 1-Fleet Alliance member companies to deliver on their core business of providing telematics solutions.