kpn and the internet of things -...
TRANSCRIPT
Introduction
Water and steam powered the first industrial revolution in the eighteenth c entury. Electricity was the catalyst for the second one. The third industrial revolution arose from breakthroughs in electronics and information technology. We are now on the cusp of the fourth industrial revolution, that of the Internet of Things (IoT). Processes will become smarter and more efficient thanks to connectivity, data and sensors. This will make organisations increasingly more productive. Is your organisation ready for the fourth industrial revolution?
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1.1 To the Internet of Things in five steps IoT is a chain of different technologies and applications.
These elements are not valuable individually. But together
they evolve into a powerful application which makes the
operational processes more efficient, or enables new
revenue models. Five steps must be completed to achieve
a successful IoT solution. We will explain this using the
example of the ‘connected cow’.
Step 1: Deploy a sensor where you want to get
information
A sensor is implanted in a cow. This sensor can record
a whole variety of values from its environment. In this
case the sensor is measuring the temperature, the
oxygen levels and the pathogens in the cow’s body.
So the sensor makes values visible to the dairy farmer.
Step 2: Make the sensor smart
A sensor on its own is of little value. It only really
becomes useful when it can do something with the
collected data. The sensor in fact only becomes smart
if it can send this collected data over an IoT network to
a device which the dairy farmer can read. Now the farmer
suddenly has an insight into the condition of his cow.
Two types of connectivity are possible to connect this
sensor: Short Range connectivity like Wi-Fi, and Long
Range connectivity like M2M (2G, 3G and 4G) and LoRa
(‘Long Range Low Power’). LoRa can exchange small
quantities of information between objects and systems,
with an ultra-low use of energy.
Step 3: Arrange good data storage
Where does the dairy farmer want to receive this
valuable information? There are several options.
Immediately in his organisation, or saved and archived
in the cloud or a datacentre. In this case the farmer
attaches importance to always having the information
close at hand. This is why the data is stored securely in
a datacentre in the Netherlands.
Step 4: Work intelligently with the data obtained
Before any conclusions can be drawn from the data
generated, it must first be analysed. Complex algorithms
interpret the data and convert it into information. Based
on the information about the cow’s condition, whether
the animal might become ill can be spotted in good time,
for instance. This lets the farmer initiate preventive
treatment immediately, which will improve the cow’s
welfare and ensure that the farmer works more effectively.
Chapter 1 What is the Internet of Things?
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a development in which smart connections are enabled between sensors, devices and people. In essence the Internet of Things consists of three elements: connectivity, sensors, smart devices and data management. With this the sensors collect huge volumes of data which are sent to an application over a data network. This application makes it possible to use the collected data. The information generated from this data produces valuable insights. These insights in turn lead to better business decisions, which themselves lead to faster processes and more efficient business operations. In short: organisations become more effective through the use of IoT.
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Step 5: Interconnect the smart items
We can expand this even further. For example, if you
equip the entire stall with a sensor, you get a smart
stall rather than a single, connected cow. This makes it
possible to measure the humidity in the stall, for
instance. The collected values are combined in a user-
friendly, convenient app on the farmer’s smartphone.
He now knows just how his cows are doing physically,
and what the conditions are like in the stall, at any time
of the day. A feature in the app makes it possible to
intervene directly using the app. Ultimately the data
collected over the years produces a better understanding
and eventually, predictive models and better preventive
treatment of the herd, which lets the dairy farmer
operate far more effectively.
1.2 Why has IoT suddenly made such advances?IoT is not new. At the end of the 1990s shipping
containers were already being equipped with sensors
which could be read. But these were isolated, small-scale
projects. Now IoT solutions are within reach of everyone.
There are a number of reasons for this:
- The computing power of processors grows steadily.
This makes performing complex calculations fast
increasingly easy;
- Sensors are becoming steadily smaller, cheaper and
more energy-efficient;
- Connectivity, both physical and wireless, is constantly
becoming better and cheaper. Examples of this are
LoRa and 4G-connectivity;
- The emergence of cloud computing has made data
accessible anywhere and at any time. This lets hard-
ware and software work faster;
- Innovations in algorithms like machine learning
and deep learning (computers ‘learn’ to recognise
patterns) lead to more intelligent systems which
together make up Big Data.
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2.1 Cases National level:
Smart dyke monitoring
Always being able to monitor the status of a dyke
remotely. By fitting sensors at various points in the dyke,
it’s possible to measure the water pressure, for instance.
The data collected by the sensors is linked to information
on the dyke’s stability. When water pressure is measured
over a longer period, the system ‘learns’ to predict the
circumstances under which a dyke breach is most likely
to occur, for example. This makes it possible to monitor
the dyke remotely, which saves time and money.
Urban level:
1. Always a parking spot
Always knowing where you can park. That’s possible
by fitting every parking place in the city with a sensor
which constantly collects data and shares it with a central
system. Using matrix boards, on-board navigation
systems and/or apps, the system shows drivers various
places in the city where parking spots are available.
2. The right lighting under all circumstances
Street lighting contributes to a city’s safety. But should
streetlights be on even when no-one is passing at night?
How can street lighting contribute even more to safety?
Sensors register the presence of a passer-by, and the
lights switch on. With this type of connectivity street
lighting can be switched off or dimmed remotely, and
soft lighting is also made possible with LoRa.
3. Always watering on time
The more information you have, the more efficiently
and effectively you can work. For example in maintaining
greenery like public gardens, roadside shoulders or parks.
By equipping the greenery with sensors which monitor
the water levels and share this information, staff only
need to go into action when it’s really necessary. This lets
municipalities deploy their people and resources more
effectively.
Business level:
1. Smart cleaning trolley
A major Dutch cleaning company has equipped its
cleaning trolleys with sensors which measure, among
other things, the volume of particulates, the carbon
dioxide, the humidity and the temperature in office
environments. With this data the company can advise its
clients proactively. For instance, the quantity of dust in
the air is an indication that the air-filters need to be
replaced. The cleaning company can also give its clients
an insight into the air quality in its offices. Using this
information lets clients reduce the number of illnesses,
and thus absenteeism. This turns cleaners into health
monitors.
2. Keeping an eye on the fleet
By equipping the vehicles in their fleets with chips
and sensors, logistics companies can always track their
cars wherever they are. Sensors are connected to the
on-board computer and collect information about driving
Chapter 2 The added value and possibilities of IoT in the future
The IoT is continuing to grow steadily. Market research firm Gartner expects every individual to have some 50 IP addresses by 2020. It also predicts that 25 billion ‘things’ will be connected to the internet by 2020. Some organisations are already implementing IoT to the fullest, but what exactly is the added value, and what are the possibilities? The potential for IoT is endless. IoT can ensure smart solutions everywhere, at the national level, at the urban level, at the company level and at the customer level. Here’s a selection of inspiring cases.
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behaviour, engine efficiency and productivity. With this
data the company can plan its routes more efficiently.
It’s also easier to predict when maintenance services
will be needed.
Customer level
Never lose luggage again
Missing luggage is a major airport frustration for
travellers. Thanks to IoT, suitcases and bags never
need to get lost again. An airline offers passengers
the ability to affix a smart tag to their bags: the e-track.
The tag contains a chip which enables it to be tracked
every where. If the tag is in the bag the passenger
can track his bag with a smartphone app. The luggage
can simply be handed in anywhere, because the tag
contains all the relevant information about the owner
and his destination.
2.2 Implementation in four stepsEveryone can now get started with IoT. The relatively
low costs bring it within reach of even small companies.
It’s not surprising that market research firm Gartner
expects 50% of future IoT applications to come from
start-ups younger than three years old. But how do
you make the move to implementation? It’s easy to do
in four steps.
Step 1: Begin with problems or ideas
What problem do you want to solve? Which processes
in your organisations do you want to improve?
What service can you provide to serve your clients
even better? Once someone is aware of the (countless)
possibilities of IoT, there’s a temptation to consider it
from a technical point of view. However it works better
to start with the problems or ideas. No immediate idea?
Coming up with a concept requires a particular mindset
and inspiration. A gathering of the IoT Academy, set
up by KPN and the RDM Makerspace, helps to broaden
your horizon. A co-creation session and hackathon
(a gathering to work on projects jointly) can also produce
the right focus.
Step 2: Construct a Minimum Viable Product
Once the idea is there you can test it on a small scale
with a prototype. Start with a Minimum Viable Product
(MVP). In other words: the most minimal, quickest-to-
create product which meets your expectations. Don’t
hesitate to involve clients in this phase! Let them work
with you to discover how to improve the concept!
Step 3: Test
Once the prototype is ready you can start on the actual
proof of concept. In a controlled environment, discover
whether your idea works as expected. The rule here is:
think big, but start small!
Step 4: Roll-out and implementation
Has your concept proved itself? Then work on its
implementation. Here too, work in small steps towards
your scalable solutions. Start small and enlarge the scale
in phases when the time is right. This lets you stay in
control of the project, and the costs stay within the limits.
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2.3 Points to noteWhen considering the uses of IoT, the only boundary is
our own imagination. For all applications, it’s important
to remember a few preconditions. Ensure that you satisfy
aspects such as privacy, security and uptime properly in
advance.
Privacy
Weigh up in advance just how you are going to secure
your data. Naturally not all data has the same level of
sensitivity, but you certainly do want to ensure there is
good protection of the data which is indeed sensitive.
First you need to know in advance who will have access
to what data in your IoT environment. Then you need
the certainty that any privacy-sensitive information is in
good hands. KPN’s data protection meets the highest
standards and Dutch legislation and regulations.
Security
What measures will you and your data provider take to
keep out hackers? What’s important here is how control
over the sensors is protected. After all, you don’t want
hackers to be able to take control of the sensors on the
dykes, traffic lights or cameras. Further protection is also
important. Are data-servers protected against fire or
floods? Does the provider have backup systems to ensure
that data will be preserved under all circumstances?
The answers to these questions are essential for keeping
your data secure. Ensure that you know the answers
when you are starting with IoT. KPN can help you with this.
Reliability
The success of an IoT solution depends to a large extent
on the quality of the data transfer and storage. What is
the connection’s uptime? Are there alternative routes
should the normal connection go down? What measures
are in place to ensure that data and connections are
available under all circumstances?
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3.1 Everything and everybody connectedKPN connects everything and everyone. We help clients
to use data intelligently and are the reliable connectivity
provider. Alongside connections by fibre-optic and copper,
we offer M2M connections such as 2G, 3G and 4G. With
LoRa we offer a new type of connectivity specifically for
IoT applications. LoRa stands for long-range and is a new
technology which can connect devices to the internet
over long distances. With LoRa, sensors can easily send
their data to the internet over long distances, or devices
can receive commands from the internet such as on/off
or open/close. LoRa will have national coverage in 2016.
3.2 Sparring partnerKPN can help organisations wanting to get started with
IoT right from the original conceptual phase. We inspire
organisations by making concrete examples available.
With gatherings such as brainstorming sessions and
IoT workshops, we support companies in discovering
favourable ideas. We work jointly on a further strategy
through a roadmap. KPN accords the highest priority
to co-creation and innovation through collaboration.
That’s why we play a major role in the various IoT initiatives
and we are co-founders of the IoT Academy. This was set
up to stimulate innovation through IoT further.
3.3 DeveloperIn practice IoT solutions are often made up of a variety of
components from a variety of suppliers. So collaboration
is a must within the chain of companies offering IoT
services and products. That is why KPN is part of a
comprehensive partner ecosystem cooperating with the
producers of smart solutions and software developers.
KPN delivers the connectivity and know-how while we
work alongside start-ups to develop new applications
and techniques. This lets us also deliver the software and
hardware for IoT with our partners.
3.4 Sharing knowledge We believe in open innovation and co-creation which
is why we participate in a range of IoT activities. Our
participation in the IoT Academy is a good example of
this. KPN also takes part in the LoRa Alliance, a platform
in which many international parties share LoRa know-
ledge. We are also a partner in the M2M World Alliance.
This global alliance ensures that we can give our multi-
national clients worldwide reliable connectivity to
connect their M2M devices.
3.5 Data managementIoT only becomes successful if data is used intelligently.
We can help you with this. With our datacentres we
ensure that your data is stored securely in the Netherlands.
We also offer services to manage and analyse your data
safely. These services comply with Dutch legislation and
regulations.
Chapter 3 KPN as a partner in IoT
KPN has the broadest arsenal of connectivity. We offer a wide range of data management solutions, and have a reliable partner ecosystem. In it we bring the end-user and partner together to make IoT a reality. We contribute to creating the concept, and we can also work with a partner to develop applications. KPN also helps in saving and archiving data securely, and in converting date into usable information. Here we seek out collaboration within our partner ecosystem and the various knowledge networks in which we participate.
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Chapter 4 Our vision for IoT
4.1 IoT offers organisations a competitive advantage IoT is going to take off in a big way. With the emergence
of the LoRa network, IoT becomes accessible for every-
thing and to everyone. While you are reading this,
hundreds of companies are already working on transfor-
ming their organisations into an environment in which
data, connectivity and smart devices lead to higher
productivity, greater process efficiency, better service
provision or complete new revenue models. In short:
innovation which puts you ahead of the competition.
4.2 Good arrangements give value to IoTIoT is more than just sensors, data and equipment
which are interconnected. It’s the people who make
the technology valuable by using the data intelligently.
That starts with thorough arrangements. They must be
clear within the entire ecosystem. So for instance there
must be consensus on which (unambiguous) software
and hardware standards will be used by all the parties
involved. How the security of your data and that of
your partners is organised must not only be clear in the
individual links of the chain. The end-to-end security
must also be properly in place to let the application
perform to the utmost. It’s also important to be clear
about who is responsible for what.
4.3 IoT contributes to a better quality of lifeWe believe in the Internet of Things. We believe that IoT
leads to higher productivity, more efficient and faster
processes and new revenue models or products which
make the Dutch commercial sector stronger and more
competitive.
But IoT can add even more value. To the Netherlands, to
our society and to our day-to-day lives. We are convinced
that the smart application of IoT will improve the quality
of life. That thanks to IoT, we will experience a better,
more comfortable, safer, healthier and more sustainable
life.
KPN is at the heart of society. We connect everything
and everyone. The ultimate goal can be a better quality
of life for everyone. A safer, more sustainable and more
comfortable environment for everyone in the Netherlands
is coming within reach.
4.4 An invitation to discuss it furtherYou have read our ideas about IoT in this document.
KPN can play a leading role for you here. We connect
everyone and everything. We can help you to deploy IoT
intelligently to make your organisation more effective.
Would you like to discover what IoT can mean for your
organisation? Then please get in touch with us. We look
forward to helping you to future-proof your organisation.
Contact details KPN Internet of Things
PO Box 19535
2500 CM The Hague
kpn.com/iot
https://twitter.com/KPNIoT
www.linkedin.com/company/kpn-iot
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