Author: John Marcus

T-Mobile Adds Data Support to T-Satellite, Broadening its Relevance Beyond Emergency Messaging

by John Marcus, posted in Communicate, Network
John Marcus – Senior Principal Analyst, Enterprise Mobility and IoT Services.

Summary Bullets:
• T-Mobile added data connectivity to T-Satellite in an announcement pivoting from “emergency messaging” focus of the service’s launch towards app-based data services and higher enterprise relevance

• Early business app integrations, coupled with an expanded set of consumer apps, position T-Satellite as a broader competitive play in satellite-to-mobile, though IoT support and performance limitations remain concerns

When T-Mobile launched T-Satellite commercially in July, the focus was firmly on safety and resilience. SMS, MMS, and text-to-911 formed the core offering, with compelling stories of hikers rescued and emergency alerts broadcast in disaster zones. At the time, the service’s competitive strengths were clear: broad device support, seamless integration with existing smartphones, and unique value in public safety. But there were also several limitations: no data or voice, little to offer enterprises beyond the “resilience” messaging, and no clarity on IoT support.

Continue reading “T-Mobile Adds Data Support to T-Satellite, Broadening its Relevance Beyond Emergency Messaging” →

5G Network Slicing Services Launch with Increasing Frequency, but What Exactly Are They Offering?

by John Marcus, posted in Cloud Enable, Network
John Marcus – Senior Principal Analyst, Enterprise Mobility and IoT Services.

Summary Bullets:

• Major telecom companies like Vodafone Germany, T-Mobile US, and Deutsche Telekom are launching distinct 5G network slicing services aimed at business customers, each reflecting unique strategies and market contexts, from Vodafone’s standardized pricing for virtual private campus networks to T-Mobile’s all-in-one premium mobility plan and Deutsche Telekom’s focus on mission-critical services for emergency responders.

• While these launches signify progress in 5G enterprise services, the concept of network slicing is still evolving, with offerings being marketed more as tailored connectivity solutions rather than fully programmable network tools.

The long-promised potential of 5G network slicing—dedicated, virtualized “lanes” in the mobile network—is finally being brought to market in structured offers for business customers. But what exactly is being offered? Vodafone Germany, T-Mobile US, and Deutsche Telekom have all announced distinct slicing propositions in recent weeks, each reflecting a different strategy and market context.

Continue reading “5G Network Slicing Services Launch with Increasing Frequency, but What Exactly Are They Offering?” →

Global Telcos Demonstrate Staying Power in Industrial IoT Advancements in 2025

by John Marcus, posted in Internet of Things
John Marcus – Senior Principal Analyst, Enterprise Mobility and IoT Services.

Summary Bullets:

• Global telcos are advancing industrial IoT with AI, 5G, and eSIM to deliversector-specific and real-time solutions at global scale.

• Strategic investments continue the shift beyond basic connectivity to intelligent, global platforms supporting logistics, energy, mobility, and public safety.

Over H1 2025, major telecom providers have redoubled their push into industrial IoT, developing tailored solutions that move well beyond connectivity to address the specific needs of sectors and use cases such as transport, utilities, and facilities management. Common threads across these efforts include the integration of AI, the evolution of connectivity through 5G, eSIM, and satellite, and a growing emphasis on real-time visibility, operational efficiency, and international scalability.

Continue reading “Global Telcos Demonstrate Staying Power in Industrial IoT Advancements in 2025” →

Network Vendors Expand Portfolios and Channels as the Private Wireless Market Continues to Gain Traction

by John Marcus, posted in IT Leader

Summary Bullets:

John Marcus – Senior Principal Analyst, Enterprise IoT, Mobility, Private Networks, and Service Innovations.

• Network infrastructure vendors such as Nokia, Ericsson, and Cisco are expanding private network portfolios with features targeting industrial automation, logistics, and sustainability.

• Partnerships with telecom service providers and system integrators are driving innovation, while simplified deployments aim to reduce barriers for enterprise adoption.

Private cellular networks, which frustratingly are also known as private wireless or mobile private networks, continue to evolve in 2024 as leading technology vendors focus on delivering tailored solutions for Industry 4.0 use cases and for guaranteed, secure coverage. From automated warehouses and worker safety to sustainable energy applications, vendors have been enhancing scalability and efficiency in their offerings while driving adoption through strategic collaborations.

Continue reading “Network Vendors Expand Portfolios and Channels as the Private Wireless Market Continues to Gain Traction” →

Recent Initiatives by Global IoT Providers Reflect Commitment to Capturing Growth

by John Marcus, posted in Internet of Things
John Marcus – Senior Principal Analyst, Enterprise IoT, Mobility, Private Networks, and Service Innovations

Summary Bullets:

• The Internet of Things (IoT) services landscape continues to evolve with global connectivity service and solution providers announcing notable advancements and initiatives over the past several months.

• Key trends include the expansion of 5G capabilities, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and network application programming interfaces (APIs), and a strong emphasis on sustainability and energy efficiency.

GlobalData recently published its product assessment of 10 global IoT service providers and an accompanying competitive landscape report as well as an update to its Global Market Opportunity Forecasts to 2028: Enterprise IoT Market model. This blog focuses on key themes among new initiatives and service launches during H1 2024.

Continue reading “Recent Initiatives by Global IoT Providers Reflect Commitment to Capturing Growth” →

Operators Face Multiple Hurdles Before 5G Network Slicing Can Be Offered Commercially

by John Marcus, posted in Internet of Things, Mobilize, Network
John Marcus – Senior Principal Analyst, Enterprise IoT, Mobility, Private Networks, and Service Innovations.

Summary Bullets:

• In January 2024, GlobalData predicted that the business services units of mobile operators would begin promoting 5G network slicing in 2024, educating enterprise customers about the technology being enabled by their rollouts of 5G standalone (SA) technology.

• Even with some progress on 5G SA rollouts around the world (and a handful of commercial trials), it’s already clear that this prediction was premature.

The potential with slicing to create multiple virtual networks within a single physical infrastructure – each tailored to specific needs – is still very much there, but a number of challenges must yet be addressed before operators can successfully launch 5G network slicing solutions for enterprises.

Continue reading “Operators Face Multiple Hurdles Before 5G Network Slicing Can Be Offered Commercially” →

Vodafone 5G Edge Update Notes Maturing Portfolio – and Customers

by John Marcus, posted in Internet of Things, Mobilize, Network
John Marcus – Senior Principal Analyst, Enterprise IoT, Mobility, Private Networks, and Service Innovations.

Summary Bullets:

• Vodafone has now delivered more than 100 mobile private networks (MPNs), most of which are now in production environments.

• Vodafone’s MPN portfolio incorporates hybrid networks and slicing, but most production deployments include a dedicated, on-premises component – although MEC demand remains limited.

Vodafone Business provided an update to analysts in May 2024 on what Vodafone calls its 5G edge. For the most part, this refers to its dedicated MPN offering, but also incorporates hybrid MPN and mobile edge compute (MEC) solutions.

Continue reading “Vodafone 5G Edge Update Notes Maturing Portfolio – and Customers” →

Comcast Sees Upside in Mobility as it Makes Pragmatic Moves to Tap Growth

by John Marcus, posted in Internet of Things, Mobilize
John Marcus – Senior Principal Analyst, Enterprise IoT, Mobility, Private Networks, and Service Innovations.

Summary Bullets:

• Comcast Business has set a long-term goal of generating its “next $10 billion” in annual revenues.

• Mobile and IoT are among areas where some of that growth is being sought, but efforts so far can be described as pragmatic and realistic.

As Comcast Business contemplates what it sees as a total addressable market of $50 billion, it has been pragmatically plugging holes in its portfolio to pursue some of the lower-hanging fruit around small business, including mobile (where it reported 6.9 million consumer and business customers in Q1 2024). Indeed, mobility and IoT were included often in executives’ comments at the Comcast Business Analyst Conference in April 2024 where there was also agreement that it remains early days for the company in those domains.

Continue reading “Comcast Sees Upside in Mobility as it Makes Pragmatic Moves to Tap Growth” →

MWC24: IoT Providers are Navigating Market Consolidation and Uneven Growth

by John Marcus, posted in Internet of Things

J. Marcus

Summary Bullets:

• IoT providers that have led the market for years continued to press forward in a more mature but still unpredictable market, navigating technology and commercial disruptions while considering new growth opportunities

• Pricing, competition, consolidation, eSIM, and trends in the key connected car space (including growth in 5G connections) were among the issues discussed in analyst briefings

Leading traditional IoT connectivity providers from the ranks of mobile network operators broke little or no news at MWC 2024 held in Barcelona, although each maintained an impressive presence in terms of exhibits, speakers, and IoT business leaders. Disruptive IoT MVNO and platform provider 1NCE did manage to draw significant attention from its booth near the food trucks, launching a unique offer for emerging high data requirements use cases priced simply at EUR5 per gigabyte. 1NCE has been offering prepaid low bandwidth services (ten years for $10) for use cases such as smart metering, street lighting, and asset tracking for several years. Now it has innovated again, offerings speeds of up to 25 Mbps for video surveillance and industrial monitoring requirements using its flat rate pricing for data usage.

Continue reading “MWC24: IoT Providers are Navigating Market Consolidation and Uneven Growth” →

eSIMs Should Fuel Growth in Cellular IoT for the Enterprise

by John Marcus, posted in Internet of Things
J. Marcus

Summary Bullets:

• eSIMs first emerged in 2016, with strong potential for adoption in both consumer applications and industrial IoT.

• A new standard was published earlier in 2023, which will make using eSIMs for IoT easier for device makers and enterprise users, likely prompting growth in cellular IoT market opportunities.

SIM cards have long been a tool for mobile operator control of user devices. Dedicated to and often issued by an operator, once inserted in a device, there is a good chance the device would remain subscribed to the operator’s service as long as it was being used. ‘Control’ may be too strong of a word, but plastic SIMs certainly helped maintain a high level of customer ‘stickiness.’ Swapping out SIM cards – which provide user identification and authentication for network access – is a slow and clunky process whether there is one device or 10,000 devices involved.

Continue reading “eSIMs Should Fuel Growth in Cellular IoT for the Enterprise” →