Danish transport and logistics group AP Moller-Maersk has invested in local start-up Onomondo, a cellular operator for the IoT, and aims to integrate Onomondo’s connectivity into its global business.
 
Onomondo has secured investment from Maersk Growth, the corporate venture arm of AP Moller-Maersk. At the same time, Maersk aims to integrate Onomondo’s connectivity into their global business, making it easier, cheaper and safer to connect IoT devices such as cranes, lorries, vessels and containers around the world.
 
“Onomondo is in the market with a proven technology that enables AP Moller-Maersk to more efficiently reap the benefits of digitising its global asset base,” said Sune Stilling, head of Maersk Growth. “We are impressed with the team and its progress so far. With our expertise and access we believe that Onomondo will further accelerate and scale the business in the next stages of its exciting journey.”
 
With its own network infrastructure implemented globally and operations across 185 countries, Onomondo says it enables a more secure, cost-efficient and scalable connectivity option, which is breaking down the barriers for global IoT at scale. This has attracted the attention of Maersk, which wishes to control its own connectivity albeit with lower costs, increased flexibility and higher security.
 
“We see significant value in the strategic alignment between Maersk’s position as a global leader in logistics and transport and Onomondo’s unique and scalable technology platform capable of merging different mobile networks around the world with a seamless user experience,” said Michael Freundt Karlsen, CEO of Onomondo. “We welcome Maersk on board as a fellow investor and look forward to working closely with them to continue to support the growth of Onomondo going forward.”
 
Maersk runs a fleet of over 700 vessels and performs more than 90,000 port calls in 400 ports every year handling over 12 million containers while operating more than 70 container terminals around the world equipped with cranes, lorries and hardware that all rely on connections to the internet.
 
“Connectivity is a key element in the AP Moller-Maersk strategy to simplify global supply chains and improve the customer experience,” said Klaus Bruun Egeberg, head of mobility and connectivity at AP Moller-Maersk. “Digitising our global asset base of cranes, containers and vessels creates new operational and commercial opportunities to pursue. Onomondo’s efficient platform and network technology make it easier, more secure and more cost-efficient for us to stay ahead in the ever-evolving connectivity space.”