Internet of Things

IoTFA 2021 Goes Virtual

The number of Internet of Things (IoT) connections exceeded the human population more than a decade ago, research shows. And in 2021, the growing rate of IoT deployment is set to reach $3.7 trillion.  This trend is expected to change the trajectory of how businesses are run across the world. So while there is a very real hype surrounding IoT, very few enterprises know how to make the most of it.  That’s why business leaders, tech aficionados and innovation heavy-weights are gearing up for the virtual edition of the Internet of Things Forum Africa — taking place from 25 – 26 March 2021. Under the theme “Enabling Enterprise Transformation with IoT”, this premier African event will see hundreds of attendees equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to plan and implement successfu...

IoTFA 2021 Goes Virtual

The number of Internet of Things (IoT) connections exceeded the human population more than a decade ago, research shows. And in 2021, the growing rate of IoT deployment is set to reach $3.7 trillion.  This trend is expected to change the trajectory of how businesses are run across the world. So while there is a very real hype surrounding IoT, very few enterprises know how to make the most of it.  That’s why business leaders, tech aficionados and innovation heavy-weights are gearing up for the virtual edition of the Internet of Things Forum Africa — taking place from 25 – 26 March 2021. Under the theme “Enabling Enterprise Transformation with IoT”, this premier African event will see hundreds of attendees equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to plan and implement successfu...

What could 5G mean for South Africa?

The rollout of 5G in South Africa’s urban centres is likely to be one of the most significant technology events of 2021. Where 3G and 4G LTE technology provided increased speeds compared to their predecessors, 5G will establish an entirely new innovation platform upon which many of the technologies and day-to-day conveniences of the future will be built. It’s less of an iteration on previous technologies and more of a total digital transformation in how we connect to virtual and physical worlds. The number of connected devices will grow exponentially, linking previously static infrastructure – cars, clothes, parking meters – to a smart network that constantly generates and processes vast amounts of data. In line with this, the 5G services market is expected to grow at an astronomical rate,...

How to Piece Together the IoT Puzzle

When first looking at an Internet of Things (IoT) project, you might think it looks cut-and-dry. Then the proverbial rug is pulled from under you. Surely, it’s just about devices and keeping them connected to the Internet, right? It SHOULD be easy; but in reality, most companies find that they’re facing a challenge that looks more like a jigsaw puzzle – and sometimes a few pieces have fallen on the floor. Thoughtfulness and planning are key to solving this IoT jigsaw puzzle. You need to know how the pieces fit with your wider enterprise IT landscape (apps/data/processes). In other words, you must become familiar with all your pieces, choose the right ones at the right time, and ensure you have a usable workspace to create your masterpiece. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_c00.td-a-rec-img{ text-ali...

Internet of threats – cybersecurity measures in the IoT landscape

Internet of Things (IoT) refers to any object or device that is connected to the Internet. This rapidly expanding set of “things” – which capture, send and receive data – includes cars, appliances, smartwatches, lighting, home assistants, home security, and more. It’s predicted that by 2025, there will be 41.6 billion units of IoT connected devices worldwide. Internet-connected devices can make us more efficient, save time and money, and allow us connectivity from almost anywhere, but they also require that we share more information than ever. The security of this information, and the security of these devices, is not always guaranteed. Once a device connects to the Internet, it could be connecting to all sorts of risks. As the number of connected devices increases, especially as more peop...

Why Technology is Key to Maintaining Business Continuity during the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced almost all businesses to change their working practices and priorities in a matter of weeks, with the findings from the 2020 Internet of Things (IoT) Spotlight report showing that 71% of SA adopters increased the pace of IoT projects during this time. Adopters clearly believe IoT was vital to keep them going: 88% said the technology was key to maintaining business continuity during the pandemic. As a result, the majority of adopters (91%) now view the integration of IoT devices with workers as a higher priority and 83% of SA businesses considering this technology agree the pandemic will accelerate their adoption of it. IoT is key to improving business performance in South Africa The Vodafone Business research findings are clear: IoT continues to generate va...

The Role of Connected Technologies in the Automotive Sector

After many months of downtime, the much-anticipated resumption of major motorsport races has begun. However, like all other real-world sports, there have been various changes brought about because of the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, a series of amendments were made to almost everything in Formula 1 – from the race-start procedures and team operational rules to podium ceremonies. Some say the Coronavirus may change motorsports forever. However, what has already changed both motorsports and vehicles forever is connectivity, which has thrived in the past decade. How did the decade change both racing and ordinary cars? Motorsport enthusiasts may characterise the past decade as the era of two outstanding racers – Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. But for F1 engineers and the bigger backst...

5 Reasons Why Connectivity Will Enable the Workplace of the Future

While the workplace of the future has long been possible, few businesses were adequately prepared for the speed and urgency at which they would need to develop such an environment — until the global COVID-19 pandemic fast-tracked digital transformation.  Seemingly overnight, organisations were faced with two choices: they could either rethink their traditional ideas on productivity and ultimately rely on new technologies and infrastructures to create a productive remote-working environment or they would need to cease operations.  Many embraced the challenge and chose the former, marking a mass work-from-home migration. Of course, reinventing the traditional office presented its obstacles, but one thing was made abundantly clear: the virtual workplace of the future can be anywhere that is s...

Why PRTG Network Monitoring is Crucial for Efficient IT Systems

The IT sector has been forced to gear up for a major increase in connected devices as more organisations around the world look at replacing traditional offices with remote working solutions.  This work-from-home migration — triggered by the coronavirus pandemic — means that there more business-critical devices supporting crucial IT networks scattered across the globe than ever before.  And while these connected technologies make doing an honest day’s work easier for employees, it’s also an unprecedented challenge for IT teams who need to keep track of their networks in order to minimize downtime and secure any cyberthreats.  With this in mind, ITNA recently chatted to Reagan Ndangi, account manager at Value-Added Distributor ASD, about exactly what PRTG Network Monitoring is...

How Tech is Changing the Mining Industry’s Future

Sourced from Mining Weekly. The mining industry across the globe is currently undergoing a technological paradigm shift. Mines of the future will require advanced technologies and mining operators are all set to embrace the new digital technologies to gain a competitive advantage. For centuries, mining has provided us with the raw materials that have enabled us to develop our economies and build communities. Mining as an industry has been maturing over the last few decades on the back of an ever-increasing demand for resources on one side, and a need for sustainability on the other. Even though there have been challenges in the South African mining industry for several years, it still employs nearly 5% of South Africa’s employed workforce, makes a significant direct contribution to GDP, si...

Building High-quality Networks with Huawei’s WiFi 6

Fred Saayman, Huawei BU Executive at Pinnacle Today’s digital, mobile Internet era has ushered in wireless networks that are bringing previously undreamed of benefits to enterprises across the board. We are becoming accustomed to being able to access the Internet anytime and from anywhere, in fact, this has become a necessity in our work and personal lives. Moreover, WiFi networks have become critical to digital transformation, linking users to clouds and Internet of things (IoT) devices, enabling network resources to be shared with employees, driving collaboration, efficiency and facilitating mobile workforces along the way. The vast majority of top tier organisations have implemented wireless offices, vastly boosting their working efficiency. The same is true of the education sector, as ...

Telenor, Sony and Ericsson Join Forces to Develop Smart IoT Healthcare Devices

Sourced from Getty Images. Ericsson, Sony and Telenor have announced that they are teaming up to make it easy to connect people and things with intelligent tracking and monitoring solutions. Ranging from cargo to IoT healthcare devices for patients, tracking increases mobility and improves reliability and efficiency. Using Telenor’s network, Ericsson’s IoT Accelerator for global connectivity, and Sony Network Communications Europe’s smart IoT services, the three partners are collaborating to enhance real-time location and tracking solutions for different sectors. Ericsson IoT Accelerator is the Ericsson’s IoT connectivity and device management platform, providing enterprises with a unified solution that manages IoT operations of any scale, using worldwide mobile network infrastructure. Mor...