Five Tips for Seamless M2M Connectivity Globally

Until recently, the M2M market was largely regional, with local M2M services providers and local applications providers. As the market has matured, however, enterprises are looking for ways to extend their M2M deployments globally. For M2M application providers who move quickly, this provides an opportunity to grow as well.

While there are a number of ways for M2M applications providers to expand their presence into international markets, the process can be challenging. Developing local relationships in multiple markets can be a Herculean task, consuming time and resources, with no guarantees for standardized levels of service.

A group of leading M2M service providers recently announced partnerships across the globe to deliver M2M network services. Just as an airline alliance enables travelers to benefit from a worldwide service network with end-to-end ticketing, support and baggage management, a global M2M alliance provides international network access, long-term Tier 1 carrier access and local support, logistics and consistent service capabilities.

Before you decide on your M2M service provider for expansion into global markets, make sure you consider the following:

• Determine the differences in how global networking services are delivered
  Ask your service provider how they will support applications at consistent costs and with reliable coverage across borders. To reduce cost and complexity and to increase reliability, especially over the long term, the best approach is network access through relationships with “native” carriers in the primary international markets, with roaming as a second best option for secondary markets, and (importantly) with access to any of the multiple carrier networks available in those markets, at any time.
• Check that your M2M service provider has direct relationships with leading regional, multi-national network providers
  While many M2M service providers offer roaming to service their global markets and some claim to offer native service while actually roaming, most market needs in M2M are focused on in-country service delivery. Roaming is more expensive and leaves the service provider vulnerable to changes in inter-carrier roam rates or even the inability to roam at short notice. Direct relationships with leading regional/multi-national operators also enable reliable confident roaming into their secondary markets, as they don’t depend on distant/individual relationships to underpin the roaming capability, instead using more local or peer-like arrangements, typical with all secondary market operators, too, instead of just one or two.