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- IoT is adrift
Hello readers,
Welcome to the IoT For All newsletter! This week we’re talking about IoT on the high seas, the ins and outs of predictive maintenance, how IoT can save you (personally) money, and more!
Bandwidth overboard
The historical limits to internet connectivity are disappearing one by one. There is no shortage of hype around the internet's escape into space, with satellites literally filling the sky. But the ocean, our planet's original great unknown, is also joining the interconnected age on its own terms. And IoT, in particular, is taking to the high seas.
Earlier this month, Danish shipping and logistics company Maersk began rolling out the world's largest private LTE network at sea in partnership with Onomondo. A total of 450 ships will each be equipped with their own private LTE network, with each vessel essentially becoming its own cellular island. Each hub will support an onboard armada of IoT devices more reliably and simply than Wi-Fi ever could.
The data, backhauled via satellite to cloud logistics systems, will enable a number of features. As Kjeld Dittmann, Head of Vessel & Cargo Connectivity at Maersk, puts it:
“With our next-generation connectivity platform, we will be able to offer our customers notable benefits, including real-time cargo tracking, enhanced supply chain visibility and improved operational efficiency. This platform is designed to support thousands of IoT devices, ensuring optimal performance for reefer tracking and fleet IoT.”
Of course, that's not the only way to bring the internet to the open water. In Latvia, the Freeport of Riga has begun expanding its 5G network to connect port operations with ships offshore by extending the traditional, terrestrial network out into the waves.
With "multi-hop" 5G relays, nearby ships and sea-faring drones will be able to pass signals as far as 100 miles offshore. This will allow for near real-time data exchange between infrastructure on land and ships at sea and, if all goes to plan, a variety of autonomous maritime systems.
To what end? Well, figuring out where the heck everything is, of course. Operations like German container company Hapag-Lloyd have been using sensor technology developed by Nexxiot to provide real-time location and temperature data, as well as records of container impacts, since 2022. But, of course, that data can only be of use if you can get it off the boat.
In the near term, the advantages are obvious: It's always better to have your cargo accounted for instead of being left in the dark and hoping for the best. In the longer term, the absolute avalanche of data that these connectivity solutions enable will be a veritable feast for AI solutions that can not only observe what is already happening, but help decide what should happen instead.
📖 Top Articles
In the 1940s, two Royal Air Force (RAF) squadrons faced a challenge — out of 40 bombers, only 20 were flight-ready. Routine maintenance was performed every 50 flight hours, yet reliability remained an issue. But when one scientist suggested performing maintenance not on a set schedule but based on the actual condition of the equipment, flight hours increased by 60 percent. This approach became the precursor to modern predictive maintenance based on equipment condition data.
 Although coverage of the Internet of Things often centers on industrial applications, they are also valuable for consumers who want to improve their financial literacy and achieve money-related goals. What advantages can you expect from these products? |  The Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication have transformed how we interact with technology. With the number of connected IoT devices increasing every day, a messaging protocol that enables real-time, reliable, and efficient communication between devices and cloud-based processing systems is critical. |
🔥 Rapid Fire
Com4 selects Nokia 5G Standalone Core to power global IoT services
ASUS IoT showcases Edge AI innovations with RUC-1000 series
Semtech strengthens global IoT connectivity security with AI-enabled network operations
Soracom, Marubeni launch IoT MVNO joint venture in Japan
Qualcomm joins forces with Advantech to accelerate AI-driven IoT applications
🎙️ The IoT For All Podcast
In this episode of the IoT For All Podcast we talk to Christian Rouffaert, Founder and CEO of Teragence, about achieving reliable IoT connectivity with crowdsourced data. The discussion covers the challenges of IoT connectivity, transparency issues with mobile operators, alternatives to local operator coverage data, and more.
📖 Ebooks
 | POND IoT Vending machines, kiosks, ATMs—they all need reliable wireless connectivity. Here’s how smart SIM tech keeps them online and earning. |
 | KORE Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is emerging as a game-changer in addiction recovery. |
🗓️ Events & Webinars
 | Virtual In this exclusive webinar, you’ll hear from Peter Brockhoff, CTO at Floading, and Jamie Hawkins, IoT Solutions Specialist at Eseye, as they take you behind the scenes of one of Europe’s most successful EV charging rollouts. May 22, 2025 |
 | Tobacco Dock, London The AI Summit London, the headline AI event of London Tech Week, unites the most forward-thinking technologists and business professionals to explore the real-world applications of AI. Think unparalleled opportunities for learning, deep-dive discovery, and non-stop networking (not to mention the incredible line-up of heavyweight speakers). June 11 - 12, 2025 |