Ericsson, Sony Mobile and SK Telecom announced trial of IoT wearables over LTE networks in Korea.
IoT wearables enable consumer lifestyle and wellness applications by leveraging IoT devices from Sony Mobile connected to Ericsson mobile networks.
Ericsson has already conducted lab testing of LTE device Category 0 and Category M (Machine Type Communication) at its radio labs in Kista, Sweden in early September. Field trials will be conducted later this year on SK Telecom’s network in Korea.
IDC estimates that the number of wearable devices shipped in 2015 will be 72.1 million, growing at 173.3 percent from 26.4 million units in 2014. Shipment volumes are expected to achieve 42.6 percent CAGR over the five-year forecast period, reaching 155.7 million units in 2019.
“We are working with Ericsson and Sony Mobileto trial both mobile network technologies and new IoT devices that improve our customer’s lives, at home and work. These latest tests and trials reflect our commitment to establish a stronger IoT ecosystem globally,” said Park Jin-hyo, senior vice president and head of Network R&D Center, SK Telecom.
LTE Cat-0 has been standardized in 3GPP LTE Release 12 and is the first device category specifically targeting reduced complexity and thus reduced cost for IoT. LTE Category M is a key theme in LTE Release 13, representing further cost savings and improving battery lifetime.
The wearable device test use cases are focused on consumer lifestyle and wellness applications enabled through multiple sensors providing accelerometer, identification, pulse meter and GPS functionality. IoT wearables are miniaturized devices with specific network and device performance criteria.
“The test and trials that we have undertaken, leveraging new Sony Mobile devices and the mobile network technology in our radio labs and in SK Telecom’s live commercial network, focus on lifestyle and wellness applications that benefit from the mobile connectivity,” said Arun Bansal, head of Business Unit Radio, Ericsson.
Ericsson will be at CTIA Super Mobility 2015 in Las Vegas from September 9 to 11.
Baburajan K
editor@telecomlead.com
