Industrial manufacturers can join the IoT revolution in Asia

From smart city initiatives to the transformation of public transport systems and supply chain monitoring, IoT technologies are being embraced by organisations in APAC for distinct use cases.  A Frost and Sullivan analysis projects the APAC IoT market to grow at an annual rate of 25.8% between 2019 and 2026 to reach $436.77 billion by the end of the forecast period¹.

There is a collective push to drive the usage of connected devices in making life easier for civilians, work more productive in organisations and governance more efficient. In Australia, 96% of organisations report high levels of IoT adoption according to a Microsoft report², while 99% of companies in China say that IoT is critical to business success. Government authorities in multiple countries are also introducing smart city initiatives and investing in IoT technologies in the transportation, logistics, and manufacturing sectors. These are positive signs for industrial manufacturers looking to enter or expand across the various markets in the APAC region.

While the region provides an untapped market opportunity for industrial manufacturers, it is also a heterogeneous landscape with diversity in language, culture, and socioeconomic status. This inadvertently creates some important hurdles to cross before OEMs can roll out their connected devices.

Not all markets are equally ready for IoT

Countries in Asia differ in their economic strength and in the state of their technology infrastructure. This includes key requirements for IoT adoption, such as the prevalence of cloud technology and the availability of 5G connectivity. Cloud computing is what powers the on-demand nature of IoT systems whereas 5G coverage will determine how fast the connected devices can communicate with each other and in what areas. Moreover, the investment in IoT infrastructure itself varies in the region, with China, South Korea, and India leading the way³.

Governments differ in their approach to regulations

The diversity across the region also translates to differences in regulations regarding data sovereignty and privacy, testing as well as cybersecurity. To pick just one difference, China’s Cyber Security Law regulates the usage and protection of ‘important’ data, while in India, the Personal Data Protection Bill automatically categorises all financial data as sensitive⁴. Hardware qualification guidelines too vary across countries with some requiring testing to be done locally and others accepting tests conducted elsewhere.

Managing SIM cards across regions can be cumbersome

Moving across countries in the region will require a change of network for devices. Unless you opt to partner with a single operator who can provide seamlessly localised connectivity through an embedded SIM (eSIM), you may have to manually configure the devices’ SIM cards or risk losing connectivity as the network changes.

Working with multiple partners can create inconsistent SLAs

Partnering with different providers and vendors in different regions will mean having to deal with multiple contracts with their own SLAs. This could create delays when it comes to troubleshooting issues or receiving support, especially during emergencies or network outages.

The ideal strategy for industrial manufacturers to scale the APAC region is to partner with a mobile network operator (MNO) who can help address some of the above challenges. When selecting a partner, look for these requirements:

Go with a single eSIM solution

Adopting a single eSim solution can help OEMs do away with the hassle of reconfiguring devices’ SIM cards across networks. It also helps reduce logistics and costs associated with inventory, overhead subscription fees as well as roaming charges.

Centralise management of network and connectivity

As you roll out your connected devices across APAC, provisioning and managing them will become more complex, and you will inevitably have to work with multiple MNO systems, providers, and vendors. Since dealing with these separately in silos can be inefficient, a unified portal can simplify integration with other systems and centralise management. This can be realised with a lead network operator like Singtel, which will also involve a single contract incorporating a service level agreement, unified billing, and centralised monitoring, reporting, analytics, and support.

Look for experts with local regulatory experience

The prospect of expanding across the APAC region might seem exciting, but you will certainly need local expertise to navigate the regulatory complexities of the region. Instead of dealing with different partners and regulators in each market, it is better to work with a lead MNO who can offer a streamlined process with one contract and SLAs across the region.

Singtel Multi-Domestic Connectivity is one such solution that meets all these criteria for connected device manufacturers. It offers a single embedded SIM (eSIM) solution using which OEMs can deliver connectivity services over an access point name (APN). A single application programming interface (API) allows for rapid integration with various MNO systems and centralises management of all SIMs in real-time. Partnering with Singtel also means you benefit from our deep local expertise and regional presence. With deep partnerships with local Tier 1 operators, Singtel offers OEMs the right guidance to navigate the regulatory requirements specific to each market in the region.

Want to be part of the IoT revolution in APAC? See how Singtel’s IoT solutions can help you gain an edge. Contact us today.

 

¹ Frost & Sullivan, Mega Trends Transforming the Internet-of-Things Market in Asia-Pacific, 2021.

² Microsoft, IoT Signals Report, 2021.

³ Bridge Alliance, Navigating APAC’s Fragmented IoT Landscape, 2020.

⁴ Regulation Asia, Data: Fault Lines Criss-crossing Asia’s Capital Markets, 2020.