Massachusetts-based communications provider iBasis has joined the IoT M2M Council (IMC) as a sustaining member to support its global operating footprint and take advantage of the IMC’s marketing and research platforms.
 
The company is rapidly expanding into e-SIM powered IoT connectivity and new enterprise markets. The IMC, a trade association with 25,000 members comprised of enterprise users and OEMs that buy IoT products and services, has about 40% of its membership in North America, with the balance dispersed globally.
 
“The e-SIM is a core part of our IoT offer, because it allows a connected device to function globally, without disruption stemming from different national connectivity service providers,” said Ajay Joseph, iBasis’ CTO who will represent the company on the IMC’s board of governors. “We look at the international reach of the IMC as a perfect alignment with what we intend to accomplish in the IoT sector.”
 
The company is moving into IoT sectors such as connected cars, shipping and asset tracking with its Global Access for Things service that includes connectivity with 700 mobile networks worldwide and a network-level data analysis offering. With partner Nordic Semiconductor, it has field-tested NB-IoT and LTE-M across 24 markets, demonstrating the readiness of standards-based cellular technologies, including LPWA devices, for massive IoT deployments.
 
IBasis was acquired last February by holding company Tofane Global, which also bought Altice Europe’s international voice carrier business in France, Portugal and the Dominican Republic in a roll-up strategy designed to create a tier-one carrier in international communications. The combined entity is the world’s third largest wholesaler of voice services.
 
For its part, the IMC is the world’s largest community of qualified IoT enterprise buyers, with membership in 24 different vertical markets. The group offers its sustaining companies a platform for thought leadership, lead-generation and research, and is now completing work on a set of template RFPs and guidelines to assist its rank-and-file membership in sourcing connectivity, software and hardware.
 
The London-based IMC is the largest trade group dedicated to the global IoT and M2M sector with over 25,000 IoT buyers as members. Board member companies include Aeris, Amazon Web Services, Digi International, HPE, Kore, MultiTech, Semtech, Sigfox, Taoglas, Tata Communications, Telit, U-Blox and Vodafone.