Verizon Business also signs Bell Canada to its global IoT eSIM platform, with more partners to follow
Telenor and Verizon have announced a strategic collaboration to deliver global IoT services to enterprises. The initial focus will be to expand the eSIM-based network access and service footprint of both companies.
The telcos believe that by combining their network assets and managed IoT capabilities across Europe and Asia for Telenor and North America for Verizon, they can provide seamless access to their respective networks for IoT customers.
Enterprises will have the ability to manage and optimise local Verizon and Telenor profiles, letting customers further broaden their global roaming-based network coverage, while also directly utilising Verizon eSIM IoT connectivity services whenever required. It also removes the complexity of managing global roaming charges.
Telenor Connexion CEO and head of Telenor IoT Mats Lundquist said: “The US is a key market for many of our global customers. Together with Verizon we can streamline our customers’ solutions and supply chains while enabling even more reliable access to the US market. This includes local network functionality, which is a catalyst for the next generation of consumer services as well as 5G-enabled critical services.”
Verizon Business chief product officer Debika Bhattacharya added: “The number of IoT devices is expanding rapidly and fleets are fanning outward, so our customers need flexible, reliable connectivity that moves across borders. With partners such as Telenor, Verizon will be able to provide that – a globe-spanning footprint with seamless eSIM IoT connectivity.”
Verizon looks for more partners
In addition to Telenor, Bell Canada is also a launch partner and Verizon said additional MNO eSIM partners covering more territories around the world will be announced later this year.
With Verizon Global IoT Orchestration, devices operating in multiple global regions will be able to connect natively via an eSIM profile from one of Verizon’s international carrier partners and operate just like a network subscriber in that partner’s service footprint, adding the partner’s full technical, commercial and multi-network coverage capabilities and enabling solutions that require local connectivity.
Global IoT Orchestration is integrated within the Verizon ThingSpace IoT management platform. In total Verizon said its Global IoT Orchestration will enable a service footprint of up to 200 countries and regions, combining native and roaming access from the telco and its MNO partners.
Critical infrastructure services company Itron is using the service to expand its IoT offerings to utility customers – without having to worry about roaming. “Itron’s decades long collaboration with Verizon on device connectivity, including harnessing the power of Verizon ThingSpace and native eSIM, will result in increased cellular IoT availability while enabling Itron to cost effectively design and deploy IoT solutions,” said Itron SVP networked solutions John Marcolini.
Second quarter: slightly above expectations
Telenor reported second-quarter earnings slightly above expectations and reiterated its outlook for the year. “In the second quarter we continue to execute on the strategy we laid out last year, seeing firm operational momentum. Quality connectivity for customers and attractive security offerings continue to drive growth,” said Telenor Group CEO Sigve Brekke. “We maintain our focus on progress in modernisation and efficiency initiatives that will drive improved cash flow generation over time.”
Service revenues were NOK15.8bn, which is an increase of NOK 0.8bn (5%) to the same period last year. On an organic basis, service revenues increased by 4%. EBITDA before other items was NOK8.8bn and increased by 4%.
Telenor has maintained its financial outlook for 2023: low-to-mid single-digit growth in Nordic service revenues; low-to-mid single-digit growth in Nordic EBITDA; and Nordic capex/sales of around 17%.