Gemalto Accelerates IoT Adoption and Innovation in Japan

AMSTERDAM, Apr 3, 2017 – (ACN Newswire) – 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 its Remote 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.

“Gemalto is a tier one strategic partner with whom we have worked on many other successful innovative projects. With the industry fast moving to IoT, Gemalto’s rich and wide-ranging portfolio of IoT products and solutions made it a natural choice for us,” said Hironobu Tamba, Division Head, Service Platform Strategy & Development Division of Softbank. “As the number of connected devices grows each day, and the demand for flexibility and seamless user experience soars, we believe ODC is a game-changer for the telecommunications industry.”

“SoftBank is a global leader and key innovator in the mobile and IoT ecosystem,” said Sashidhar Thothadri, Senior Vice President, Mobile Services & IoT, South Asia & Japan at Gemalto. “We are very excited to be selected by SoftBank for this prestigious program and with our experience of deploying more than 20 projects worldwide, we are confident of delivering a solid platform to boost new revenue streams and create a unique and valuable experience for customers.”