Vodafone and Inmarsat will together provide internet access to hard-to-reach places in the world, after signing a deal aimed at bringing connection to the global Internet of Things sector, the Financial Times reported. Inmarsat CEO Rupert Pearce said this was its first deal with a mobile phone network but that it does not expect it to be the last between satellite network and mobile network providers, as both sides seek to connect machines and smart software applications worldwide.
Vodafone wants to rapidly develop its business for supplying connectivity for driverless cars, smart cities and other IoT applications in areas such as transport, agriculture and energy. Ivo Rook, director of Vodafone’s IoT business, said: “Success in IoT demands a mix of different technologies for different applications. By adding satellite connectivity from Inmarsat to the Vodafone portfolio we continue to deliver on our strategy to lead in managed Internet of Things services.”
The deal does not include any financial commitments.
The satellite industry hopes that the push for next generation 5G mobile services, and the need for connectivity for autonomous cars and internet of things technology in remote locations such as farms or offshore drilling locations, will bring their communications into the mainstream for the first time. The major companies have been invited to Brussels to contribute to plans to launch 5G, the first time that the satellite sector has been part of the conversation on a major telecoms network upgrade.
Source: http://www.telecompaper.com/news/vodafone-inmarsat-sign-global-internet-deal-for-iot-sector--1167770
