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Johannesburg - MTN Business showcased innovative future technology at the second MTN IoT (Internet of Things) Conference at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.
With over 400 attendees, the conference is a snapshot of the latest trends and opportunities in the IoT industry.
IoT is the networking of physical smart devices, which also include vehicles, buildings, and other items that feature embedded electronics, software and sensors. The devices enable smart objects to collect and exchange data. It connects devices across numerous industries including mining, ports, and health care industries, facilities management, automotive retail, smart buildings and food processing.
Irvan Damon, energy and IoT expert from technology energy specialists Eldo Energy, told Fin24 that while the industry was growing, conference such as this were crucial to the development of a local industry.
READ: How the Internet of Things will change everyday life
“The trick is to pull together the right solution where IoT can be adapted to boost the industry locally,” Damon told Fin24. “IoT can be very agile if the right thinking is put behind implementation.”
Several IoT companies exhibited at the conference, including IoT.nxt who recently raised R100m for global expansion into the industry. IoT.nxt specialises in the development of software and hardware around IoT.
READ: SA Internet of Things firm set for global expansion on R100m boost
Zhu Ming, Huawei’s IoT Regional Director, also emphasised that cooperation with partners would build a profitable ecosystem and was the best way to accelerate the development of IoT in South Africa. He added that Huawei’s vision was to enable and promote an intelligent society, where all things were intelligent, connected and sensing.
“We can only do this by creating partnerships with all players; network operators, device manufacturers and application developers,” he said.
Huawei and MTN are already working together in the IoT space, focusing on Smart Refrigeration, Smart Water and Usage-based Insurance Solutions
