German security technology company Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) has acquired Pod Group, an IoT enterprise network operator (ENO).

The acquisition should build on Pod Group’s position as a provider of the connectivity, infrastructure and managed services required by enterprises to own and control their IoT networks, while complementing G+D’s offering of trusted connectivity enablement for the IoT with tailored connectivity management services.

UK-based Pod Group’s approach to IoT connectivity is designed to simplify deployments by providing enterprises with access to an entire ecosystem of integrated IoT connectivity technologies. These include eUICC/eSIM, private LTE and SIM app technology such as zero touch provisioning, all supported by a centralised management and billing platform, Pod IoT Suite.

The acquisition by G+D, a specialist in eSIM, should help Pod Group accelerate market adoption of eSIM for the IoT by reducing barriers to entry and cost of adoption, and increasing enterprise ownership and control.

Pod Group’s 20 years of expertise in implementing IoT connectivity for enterprises across a broad variety of sectors, combined with G+D’s nearly 170 years focusing on trust and security of physical and digital assets, should create a powerful proposition in the market, allowing mobile network operators (MNOs) to make their services more easily accessible to a wide range of enterprises through Pod and G+D’s combined eSIM and connectivity enablement.

“The acquisition of Pod Group by G+D has been driven by synergies and a mutual understanding of some of the existing barriers to mass IoT becoming a reality,” said Sam Colley, CEO of Pod Group. “G+D and Pod Group, together, will now be able to accelerate the growth of Pod’s ENO ecosystem allowing us to deliver secure enterprise grade connectivity and security seamlessly, which is becoming increasingly important as spectrum opens up for the deployment of private LTE and 5G networks.”

As well as benefiting enterprise customers, Colley said it also represented a great opportunity for both parties to deepen their relationships with existing ecosystem partners and vendors through broader collaboration.

Carsten Ahrens, CEO of G+D Mobile Security, added: “We are truly excited about this acquisition. As a dependable IoT provider for connecting to private and public networks, Pod and its products ideally complement G+D’s trusted connectivity portfolio. The enriched offerings will now enable IoT ecosystems to connect, manage, bill and secure devices globally, in a seamless and cost-effective approach. The joint portfolio comprises proven connectivity management, proven security and performance in supporting hundreds of millions of mobile devices worldwide. Together with Pod we will accelerate our work to unleash the full potential of IoT for enterprises and MNOs, globally”

Last year, G+D acquired stakes in the Swiss software company Netcetera and the crypto-asset company Metaco.

“Over the past years we consistently pursued our strategic goals and invested heavily in our digital portfolio,” said Ralf Wintergerst, group CEO of G+D. “In particular, we were able to successfully further expand the future fields of digital payment and encryption technology. And now, with the acquisition of Pod, we strengthen our portfolio in the field of IoT.”

Pod Group is a specialist in IoT SIM cards and connectivity for enterprise IoT applications As an ENO, Pod goes beyond traditional connectivity service providers to offer customisations designed to give enterprises of all sizes ownership and control of their IoT connectivity, from the SIM card right up to a complete private network.

With offices worldwide and access to more than 600 networks in 185 countries, Pod’s global team supports enterprises across a broad range of sectors as they take ownership of their IoT connectivity.  

G+D is headquartered in Munich. The company’s technology protects physical and digital payments, the connectivity of people and machines, the identity of people and objects, as well as digital infrastructures and confidential data.

G+D was founded in 1852. In 2020, the company generated a turnover of €2.31bn with around 11,500 employees. It is represented by 74 subsidiaries and joint ventures in 32 countries.