Amsterdam, Apr. 3, 2017 – Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), the world leader in digital security, announces it has been selected by SoftBank Corp. (“SoftBank”) as a partner for On-Demand Connectivity (ODC) services enabling both consumer and industrial machine-to-machine (M2M) IoT connectivity and deployment of value added applications and services. Under the collaboration, Gemalto will supply itsRemote SIM Provisioning platform, allowing SoftBank to remotely manage initial connectivity and subscriptions throughout the device’s lifecycle. This will give the Japan based mobile network operator a competitive edge in connecting expanding digital devices, such as connected cars, wearables, traffic monitoring systems, or smart meters. Gemalto’s subscription management platform also eliminates logistics hurdles for OEMs, mobile operators and service providers, and enhances the user experience over the long haul.
IoT has been experiencing great momentum in Japan since the formation of the IoT Acceleration Consortium. According to the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), domestic IoT revenue is forecast to reach US$130 billion[1] this year, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11%. JETRO expects IoT expenditures and investments in Japan to cross the US$100 billion mark by 2018, growing at a 17% CAGR.The present top-spending sectors are manufacturing, transportation, and utilities.