PLDT Inc. said its enterprise arm will launch Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) solutions, as it has the potential to provide clients with the ability to efficiently scale their deployment of IoT devices.
In a white paper that PLDT Enterprise released to the media on Thursday, PLDT Enterprise said NB-IoT is a type of wireless connectivity protocol that “runs on minimal bandwidth that extends its reach to far-flung areas and consumes minimal power that extends battery life to as much as 10 years, which makes it the ideal solution for massive-type IoT deployments.”
According to the study, NB-IoT’s use cases currently include smart metering for power distribution, the development of smart cities, and the introduction of smart agriculture, as well as asset monitoring.
“NB-IoT is a low-power, low-bandwidth wireless connectivity that can effectively scale thousands to potentially millions of connected IoT devices across different industries such as utilities, agriculture, and smart cities,” PLDT Enterprise EVP Melvin Jeffrey Chan said.
“It can be an alternative in reducing infrastructure costs when connecting sensors and devices, making it an affordable option for businesses of all sizes needing real time insights for business decision and strategy.”
The white paper further noted that NB-IoT provides “end-to-end telecom-grade encryption for data transmission, secure device identification, and authentication.”
As it operates on a licensed spectrum, NB-IoT is a more secure option as compared to unlicensed communication protocol, ensuring that IoT devices are protected from interferences, hacking, and unauthorized access, according to the paper.
For IoT applications situated in hard-to-reach locations, this connectivity solution reduces the frequency in maintenance and significantly lowers operating costs for the deployment of devices and sensors.
“We leave no stone unturned to become the preferred digital transformation ally in the country. We put ourselves in our customers’ situations and take a closer look at their businesses and industries to provide adequate but cost-effective solutions. We believe that by doing this, we can go further together,” Chan added.
He noted that the NB-IoT market has a huge potential, citing a global study that pegged the value of the market at $634.4 million in 2021, a figure that is expected to swell to $32.5 billion by 2031.
Chan added that key considerations that could hasten the adoption of NB-IoT include network coverage and capacity, efficient device management, and a robust infrastructure that has the analytic tools, security measures, and cloud platforms to maximize the value of collected data.
