Taiwan’s largest mobile network operator Chunghwa Telecom makes a play for the Internet of Things with Tata Communications

Tata Communications, a leading digital infrastructure provider, is joining forces with Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan’s largest mobile network operator, to bring global connectivity to consumer electronics and industrial Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

Tata Communications MOVE – IoT Connect™ allows IoT devices to be deployed quickly both locally and internationally by leveraging Tata Communications’ ecosystem of mobile network operators worldwide. As part of this ecosystem, Chunghwa Telecom will be able to tap into additional revenues by connecting IoT devices through Tata Communications MOVE™.

“The problem is that today’s mobile networks are inherently local – there is no such concept as a global mobile network. We want to change that. We’re excited to work with Chunghwa Telecom and other leading mobile network operators around the world to build a truly global ecosystem of connectivity, and spur IoT adoption by businesses worldwide.”

Anthony Bartolo, Chief Product Officer, Tata Communications

The Taiwanese electronics industry output is expected to be worth USD$ 228 billion (NT$6.65 trillion) in 2018, and the wearables market grew at double digits in both volume and value terms in 2017. Chunghwa Telecom looks to capitalise on this growth through the existing IoT roaming services it provides, and by offering its device manufacturer and enterprise customers’ IoT services instant global reach through Tata Communications MOVE – IoT Connect™.

“Our aim is to serve three million IoT devices in the next three years, and Tata Communications will be one of our key partners to fulfil this ambition,” said Ming-Shih Chen, President of Mobile Business Group, Chunghwa Telecom. “Tata Communications MOVE™ will give our customers’ IoT services borderless network coverage across 200 countries, ensuring a consistently high-quality and reliable user experience. At the same time, we’re able to extend our business easily by being part of the Tata Communications’ MOVE™ ecosystem of mobile network operators. It’s a win-win for us.”

One of Chunghwa Telecom’s first Tata Communications’ MOVE – IoT Connect™ customers is TaiDoc, which manufactures premium medical devices to improve people’s health and the quality of life. TaiDoc will use Tata Communications MOVE – IoT Connect™ to extend the reach of its devices seamlessly to countries such as China, Thailand and the US.

“IoT devices require borderless, secure and scalable connectivity to enable the capture, movement and management of information worldwide,” said Anthony Bartolo, Chief Product Officer, Tata Communications. “Cellular connectivity is an effective foundation for IoT services, but the problem is that today’s mobile networks are inherently local – there is no such concept as a global mobile network. We want to change that. We’re excited to work with Chunghwa Telecom and other leading mobile network operators around the world to build a truly global ecosystem of connectivity, and spur IoT adoption by businesses worldwide.”

“IDC predicts in its Worldwide Internet of Things Installed Base by Connectivity Forecast, 2017–2021 that the worldwide installed base of IoT endpoints will grow from 20 billion by the end of 2018 to more than 82 billion in 2025,” said Hugh Ujhazy, Associate Vice President, Telecom & IoT Practice Lead, IDC Asia/Pacific. Each of those devices requires connectivity to enable exchange of data and successful management and security. The advent of 5G is expected to serve as a boon for cellular, which will grow to represent 20.6% of total connections by the end of 2025. Global, robust and scalable networks offering a range of connectivity solutions, from satellite to low power WAN, will be essential to the smooth and effective delivery of data, leading to the realisation of enterprise expectation from deployed IoT solutions.”

The API-enabled, software-defined and fully automated Tata Communications MOVE – IoT Connect™ platform accelerates the time to market for new IoT services, giving businesses complete visibility and control over their IoT devices and associated data usage patterns on a global scale.

Tata Communications MOVE™ is part of the company’s aim of creating truly borderless mobile experiences for people and things, and growth strategy in the global IoT market – projected to be worth USD$ 8.9 trillion in 2020.  It is underpinned by Tata Communications’ relationships in the world’s mobile ecosystem and its global network, which today connects 4 out of 5 mobile subscribers and carries over 25% of the world’s Internet routes.