NTT DOCOMO has launched the "DOCOMO Asia IoT Program" (AIP), aiming to foster collaboration among IoT providers and expand the IoT market across the Asia region.
Mobile operators from 15 countries in the region have expressed their intention to participate in the program, said NTT DOCOMO.
Forming part of DOCOMO's global IoT solution "Globiot", the program aims to strengthen the company's IoT offering within the Asian region. It will enhance connectivity, operational support and consultation on certification and regulation, all of which rely on close collaboration with local mobile operators in the region.
By participating in this program, mobile operators in the Asian region will be able to acquire timely information on the Japanese and Asian markets and work closely with DOCOMO to further meet the needs of corporate customers.
Multiple mobile operators from each Asian country are participating in the new program. Corporate customers are likely to benefit, as the program will allow them to acquire local information and mobile connectivity relatively quickly, and will also give them the opportunity to compare the offerings of multiple mobile operators.
At the program's kick-off meeting, participating mobile operators shared the status of their respective local IoT markets and highlighted the opportunities and challenges faced in the technical and business development of IoT services in the Asian region. Information was also exchanged between the mobile operators and a guest corporate customer.
In January this year, DOCOMO launched its 5G Open Partner Program to promote collaboration in the 5G field. The global IoT market continues to expand, and this expansion is likely to accelerate in the coming 5G era. Going forward, DOCOMO is dedicated to broadening its partnerships across the Asia region in order to support its corporate customers' own IoT business expansion.
