BEST OF THE WEB

Do we need a separate network for M2M traffic?

With the co-called Internet of Things only just getting started, it’s sometimes hard for enterprises to plan strategies.

There may be a device that your (fill in the blank — warehouse/factory/installations in the field/customer devices around the world) that will send data back to (fill in the blank –your data centre/the cloud) enough that you’ll need (fill in the blank — terrabytes/petabytes/exabytes) of storage.

Do you need a separate network for all that traffic?

Maybe not internally, but freelance writer Gayle Dutton notes on Forbes.com that some people are talking about the need for an international network for all that M2M traffic that will be roaring around the world.

It’s an interesting thought, coming the same week as a vendor survey of network professionals on readiness for the IoT.

A company called Sigfox is building a low-bandwidth network now for M2M traffic in San Francisco, Britain, France, Russia, Spain and the Netherlands.

As with all new technologies, there’s another side to the coin. Dutton quotes  the chief marketing officer of the Bluetooth SIG saying “a separate network probably would prevent the IoT from becoming a reality because it would stunt interoperability.” Developing separate Internet networks, he explains, fosters proprietary or regional approaches that reduce competition and tie companies and consumers to their technology vendors.”

His answer: Bluetooth Smart networks, cellular and Wi-Fi networks will be good enough.

Well, ask two vendors for solutions and they’ll pitch their own.

Whether the volume of M2M traffic will achieve projections is a question still to be answered, although the amount of mobile data generated by smart phone users has exceeded predictions. That could be a sign.

On the other hand one-third of people surveyed in the IoT study released this week think it’s over-hyped.

Howard Solomon
Howard Solomon
Currently a freelance writer, I'm the former editor of ITWorldCanada.com and Computing Canada. An IT journalist since 1997, I've written for several of ITWC's sister publications including ITBusiness.ca and Computer Dealer News. Before that I was a staff reporter at the Calgary Herald and the Brampton (Ont.) Daily Times. I can be reached at hsolomon [@] soloreporter.com

Would you recommend this article?

Share

Thanks for taking the time to let us know what you think of this article!
We'd love to hear your opinion about this or any other story you read in our publication.


Jim Love, Chief Content Officer, IT World Canada

Featured Download

ITW in your inbox

Our experienced team of journalists and bloggers bring you engaging in-depth interviews, videos and content targeted to IT professionals and line-of-business executives.

More Best of The Web