Mobile pulse: One million connected to the Internet of Things

(Fornebu, 22 April 2015) Telenor has passed the one million mark for machine-to-machine subscriptions (M2M) in Norway. M2M solutions provide individuals with a better quality of life and businesses with lower costs.

When Telenor started offering machine-to-machine services more than 20 years ago, we called it telemetry. Both the designation and technology have changed since then in line with developments in the field, as well as the number of operators. After having used the term M2M for many years, we now tend to talk about the Internet of Things more often.

'The fact that we've passed the one million mark for subscriptions in this area shows that Norway is light years ahead in the use of M2M technology, and the development of smart cities and things,' says Marina Lønning, Business Market Manager at Telenor Norway.

M2M uses the mobile network, wireless networks or the fixed line network to connect things and devices to the Internet.

'It's no longer just our mobile phones, tablets and computers that are smart. We have smart vehicles, smart streetlights, smart buildings and smart health services,' says Lønning.

Multiple applications
For businesses, Internet-connected solutions will open up new opportunities to increase efficiency and reduce costs, while welfare technology means that the elderly can live at home for longer, saving the healthcare sector large sums at the same time.

The potential of the Internet of things is considerable. Telenor now supplies nine out of ten M2M subscriptions in Norway, and Lønning expects further rapid growth.

'The opportunities provided by the Internet of Things are endless, and they will grow significantly in the years to come. We are particularly noticing a demand for services that makes businesses more competitive, which means that digitisation is the keyword,' says Lønning.

M2M has a wide range of applications. Here are just some of them:
• Alarm solutions for houses, cars and boats.
• Monitoring of machines, buildings and containers.
• Level control in tanks and cisterns.
• Fleet management and orders in cars.
• Positioning solutions for cars, boats, containers, etc..
• Payment terminals in taxis, retail businesses and eateries.
• Remote meter reading of electricity meters.

Every month, Telenor takes the pulse of Norwegians' mobile habits and the latest trends in data usage, smartphones, mobile services, and text messaging/MMS messaging.

For further information, please contact:
Anders Krokan, PR Manager at Telenor Norway
Mobile: +47 952 09 037, Email: anders.krokan@telenor.com