KPN and the Internet of Things

Everything and everybody connected

Introduction

Water and steam powered the first industrial revolution in the eighteenth c entury. Electricity was the catalyst for the second one. The third industrial revolution arose from breakthroughs in electronics and information technology. We are now on the cusp of the fourth industrial revolution, that of the Internet of Things (IoT). Processes will become smarter and more efficient thanks to connectivity, data and sensors. This will make organisations increasingly more productive. Is your organisation ready for the fourth industrial revolution?

2

1.1 To the Internet of Things in five steps IoT is a chain of different technologies and applications.

These elements are not valuable individually. But together

they evolve into a powerful application which makes the

operational processes more efficient, or enables new

revenue models. Five steps must be completed to achieve

a successful IoT solution. We will explain this using the

example of the ‘connected cow’.

Step 1: Deploy a sensor where you want to get

information

A sensor is implanted in a cow. This sensor can record

a whole variety of values from its environment. In this

case the sensor is measuring the temperature, the

oxygen levels and the pathogens in the cow’s body.

So the sensor makes values visible to the dairy farmer.

Step 2: Make the sensor smart

A sensor on its own is of little value. It only really

becomes useful when it can do something with the

collected data. The sensor in fact only becomes smart

if it can send this collected data over an IoT network to

a device which the dairy farmer can read. Now the farmer

suddenly has an insight into the condition of his cow.

Two types of connectivity are possible to connect this

sensor: Short Range connectivity like Wi-Fi, and Long

Range connectivity like M2M (2G, 3G and 4G) and LoRa

(‘Long Range Low Power’). LoRa can exchange small

quantities of information between objects and systems,

with an ultra-low use of energy.

Step 3: Arrange good data storage

Where does the dairy farmer want to receive this

valuable information? There are several options.

Immediately in his organisation, or saved and archived

in the cloud or a datacentre. In this case the farmer

attaches importance to always having the information

close at hand. This is why the data is stored securely in

a datacentre in the Netherlands.

Step 4: Work intelligently with the data obtained

Before any conclusions can be drawn from the data

generated, it must first be analysed. Complex algorithms

interpret the data and convert it into information. Based

on the information about the cow’s condition, whether

the animal might become ill can be spotted in good time,

for instance. This lets the farmer initiate preventive

treatment immediately, which will improve the cow’s

welfare and ensure that the farmer works more effectively.

Chapter 1 What is the Internet of Things?

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a development in which smart connections are enabled between sensors, devices and people. In essence the Internet of Things consists of three elements: connectivity, sensors, smart devices and data management. With this the sensors collect huge volumes of data which are sent to an application over a data network. This application makes it possible to use the collected data. The information generated from this data produces valuable insights. These insights in turn lead to better business decisions, which themselves lead to faster processes and more efficient business operations. In short: organisations become more effective through the use of IoT.

3

Step 5: Interconnect the smart items

We can expand this even further. For example, if you

equip the entire stall with a sensor, you get a smart

stall rather than a single, connected cow. This makes it

possible to measure the humidity in the stall, for

instance. The collected values are combined in a user-

friendly, convenient app on the farmer’s smartphone.

He now knows just how his cows are doing physically,

and what the conditions are like in the stall, at any time

of the day. A feature in the app makes it possible to

intervene directly using the app. Ultimately the data

collected over the years produces a better understanding

and eventually, predictive models and better preventive

treatment of the herd, which lets the dairy farmer

operate far more effectively.

1.2 Why has IoT suddenly made such advances?IoT is not new. At the end of the 1990s shipping

containers were already being equipped with sensors

which could be read. But these were isolated, small-scale

projects. Now IoT solutions are within reach of everyone.

There are a number of reasons for this:

- The computing power of processors grows steadily.

This makes performing complex calculations fast

increasingly easy;

- Sensors are becoming steadily smaller, cheaper and

more energy-efficient;

- Connectivity, both physical and wireless, is constantly

becoming better and cheaper. Examples of this are

LoRa and 4G-connectivity;

- The emergence of cloud computing has made data

accessible anywhere and at any time. This lets hard-

ware and software work faster;

- Innovations in algorithms like machine learning

and deep learning (computers ‘learn’ to recognise

patterns) lead to more intelligent systems which

together make up Big Data.

4

2.1 Cases National level:

Smart dyke monitoring

Always being able to monitor the status of a dyke

remotely. By fitting sensors at various points in the dyke,

it’s possible to measure the water pressure, for instance.

The data collected by the sensors is linked to information

on the dyke’s stability. When water pressure is measured

over a longer period, the system ‘learns’ to predict the

circumstances under which a dyke breach is most likely

to occur, for example. This makes it possible to monitor

the dyke remotely, which saves time and money.

Urban level:

1. Always a parking spot

Always knowing where you can park. That’s possible

by fitting every parking place in the city with a sensor

which constantly collects data and shares it with a central

system. Using matrix boards, on-board navigation

systems and/or apps, the system shows drivers various

places in the city where parking spots are available.

2. The right lighting under all circumstances

Street lighting contributes to a city’s safety. But should

streetlights be on even when no-one is passing at night?

How can street lighting contribute even more to safety?

Sensors register the presence of a passer-by, and the

lights switch on. With this type of connectivity street

lighting can be switched off or dimmed remotely, and

soft lighting is also made possible with LoRa.

3. Always watering on time

The more information you have, the more efficiently

and effectively you can work. For example in maintaining

greenery like public gardens, roadside shoulders or parks.

By equipping the greenery with sensors which monitor

the water levels and share this information, staff only

need to go into action when it’s really necessary. This lets

municipalities deploy their people and resources more

effectively.

Business level:

1. Smart cleaning trolley

A major Dutch cleaning company has equipped its

cleaning trolleys with sensors which measure, among

other things, the volume of particulates, the carbon

dioxide, the humidity and the temperature in office

environments. With this data the company can advise its

clients proactively. For instance, the quantity of dust in

the air is an indication that the air-filters need to be

replaced. The cleaning company can also give its clients

an insight into the air quality in its offices. Using this

information lets clients reduce the number of illnesses,

and thus absenteeism. This turns cleaners into health

monitors.

2. Keeping an eye on the fleet

By equipping the vehicles in their fleets with chips

and sensors, logistics companies can always track their

cars wherever they are. Sensors are connected to the

on-board computer and collect information about driving

Chapter 2 The added value and possibilities of IoT in the future

The IoT is continuing to grow steadily. Market research firm Gartner expects every individual to have some 50 IP addresses by 2020. It also predicts that 25 billion ‘things’ will be connected to the internet by 2020. Some organisations are already implementing IoT to the fullest, but what exactly is the added value, and what are the possibilities? The potential for IoT is endless. IoT can ensure smart solutions everywhere, at the national level, at the urban level, at the company level and at the customer level. Here’s a selection of inspiring cases.

5

behaviour, engine efficiency and productivity. With this

data the company can plan its routes more efficiently.

It’s also easier to predict when maintenance services

will be needed.

Customer level

Never lose luggage again

Missing luggage is a major airport frustration for

travellers. Thanks to IoT, suitcases and bags never

need to get lost again. An airline offers passengers

the ability to affix a smart tag to their bags: the e-track.

The tag contains a chip which enables it to be tracked

every where. If the tag is in the bag the passenger

can track his bag with a smartphone app. The luggage

can simply be handed in anywhere, because the tag

contains all the relevant information about the owner

and his destination.

2.2 Implementation in four stepsEveryone can now get started with IoT. The relatively

low costs bring it within reach of even small companies.

It’s not surprising that market research firm Gartner

expects 50% of future IoT applications to come from

start-ups younger than three years old. But how do

you make the move to implementation? It’s easy to do

in four steps.

Step 1: Begin with problems or ideas

What problem do you want to solve? Which processes

in your organisations do you want to improve?

What service can you provide to serve your clients

even better? Once someone is aware of the (countless)

possibilities of IoT, there’s a temptation to consider it

from a technical point of view. However it works better

to start with the problems or ideas. No immediate idea?

Coming up with a concept requires a particular mindset

and inspiration. A gathering of the IoT Academy, set

up by KPN and the RDM Makerspace, helps to broaden

your horizon. A co-creation session and hackathon

(a gathering to work on projects jointly) can also produce

the right focus.

Step 2: Construct a Minimum Viable Product

Once the idea is there you can test it on a small scale

with a prototype. Start with a Minimum Viable Product

(MVP). In other words: the most minimal, quickest-to-

create product which meets your expectations. Don’t

hesitate to involve clients in this phase! Let them work

with you to discover how to improve the concept!

Step 3: Test

Once the prototype is ready you can start on the actual

proof of concept. In a controlled environment, discover

whether your idea works as expected. The rule here is:

think big, but start small!

Step 4: Roll-out and implementation

Has your concept proved itself? Then work on its

implementation. Here too, work in small steps towards

your scalable solutions. Start small and enlarge the scale

in phases when the time is right. This lets you stay in

control of the project, and the costs stay within the limits.

6

2.3 Points to noteWhen considering the uses of IoT, the only boundary is

our own imagination. For all applications, it’s important

to remember a few preconditions. Ensure that you satisfy

aspects such as privacy, security and uptime properly in

advance.

Privacy

Weigh up in advance just how you are going to secure

your data. Naturally not all data has the same level of

sensitivity, but you certainly do want to ensure there is

good protection of the data which is indeed sensitive.

First you need to know in advance who will have access

to what data in your IoT environment. Then you need

the certainty that any privacy-sensitive information is in

good hands. KPN’s data protection meets the highest

standards and Dutch legislation and regulations.

Security

What measures will you and your data provider take to

keep out hackers? What’s important here is how control

over the sensors is protected. After all, you don’t want

hackers to be able to take control of the sensors on the

dykes, traffic lights or cameras. Further protection is also

important. Are data-servers protected against fire or

floods? Does the provider have backup systems to ensure

that data will be preserved under all circumstances?

The answers to these questions are essential for keeping

your data secure. Ensure that you know the answers

when you are starting with IoT. KPN can help you with this.

Reliability

The success of an IoT solution depends to a large extent

on the quality of the data transfer and storage. What is

the connection’s uptime? Are there alternative routes

should the normal connection go down? What measures

are in place to ensure that data and connections are

available under all circumstances?

7

3.1 Everything and everybody connectedKPN connects everything and everyone. We help clients

to use data intelligently and are the reliable connectivity

provider. Alongside connections by fibre-optic and copper,

we offer M2M connections such as 2G, 3G and 4G. With

LoRa we offer a new type of connectivity specifically for

IoT applications. LoRa stands for long-range and is a new

technology which can connect devices to the internet

over long distances. With LoRa, sensors can easily send

their data to the internet over long distances, or devices

can receive commands from the internet such as on/off

or open/close. LoRa will have national coverage in 2016.

3.2 Sparring partnerKPN can help organisations wanting to get started with

IoT right from the original conceptual phase. We inspire

organisations by making concrete examples available.

With gatherings such as brainstorming sessions and

IoT workshops, we support companies in discovering

favourable ideas. We work jointly on a further strategy

through a roadmap. KPN accords the highest priority

to co-creation and innovation through collaboration.

That’s why we play a major role in the various IoT initiatives

and we are co-founders of the IoT Academy. This was set

up to stimulate innovation through IoT further.

3.3 DeveloperIn practice IoT solutions are often made up of a variety of

components from a variety of suppliers. So collaboration

is a must within the chain of companies offering IoT

services and products. That is why KPN is part of a

comprehensive partner ecosystem cooperating with the

producers of smart solutions and software developers.

KPN delivers the connectivity and know-how while we

work alongside start-ups to develop new applications

and techniques. This lets us also deliver the software and

hardware for IoT with our partners.

3.4 Sharing knowledge We believe in open innovation and co-creation which

is why we participate in a range of IoT activities. Our

participation in the IoT Academy is a good example of

this. KPN also takes part in the LoRa Alliance, a platform

in which many international parties share LoRa know-

ledge. We are also a partner in the M2M World Alliance.

This global alliance ensures that we can give our multi-

national clients worldwide reliable connectivity to

connect their M2M devices.

3.5 Data managementIoT only becomes successful if data is used intelligently.

We can help you with this. With our datacentres we

ensure that your data is stored securely in the Netherlands.

We also offer services to manage and analyse your data

safely. These services comply with Dutch legislation and

regulations.

Chapter 3 KPN as a partner in IoT

KPN has the broadest arsenal of connectivity. We offer a wide range of data management solutions, and have a reliable partner ecosystem. In it we bring the end-user and partner together to make IoT a reality. We contribute to creating the concept, and we can also work with a partner to develop applications. KPN also helps in saving and archiving data securely, and in converting date into usable information. Here we seek out collaboration within our partner ecosystem and the various knowledge networks in which we participate.

8

Chapter 4 Our vision for IoT

4.1 IoT offers organisations a competitive advantage IoT is going to take off in a big way. With the emergence

of the LoRa network, IoT becomes accessible for every-

thing and to everyone. While you are reading this,

hundreds of companies are already working on transfor-

ming their organisations into an environment in which

data, connectivity and smart devices lead to higher

productivity, greater process efficiency, better service

provision or complete new revenue models. In short:

innovation which puts you ahead of the competition.

4.2 Good arrangements give value to IoTIoT is more than just sensors, data and equipment

which are interconnected. It’s the people who make

the technology valuable by using the data intelligently.

That starts with thorough arrangements. They must be

clear within the entire ecosystem. So for instance there

must be consensus on which (unambiguous) software

and hardware standards will be used by all the parties

involved. How the security of your data and that of

your partners is organised must not only be clear in the

individual links of the chain. The end-to-end security

must also be properly in place to let the application

perform to the utmost. It’s also important to be clear

about who is responsible for what.

4.3 IoT contributes to a better quality of lifeWe believe in the Internet of Things. We believe that IoT

leads to higher productivity, more efficient and faster

processes and new revenue models or products which

make the Dutch commercial sector stronger and more

competitive.

But IoT can add even more value. To the Netherlands, to

our society and to our day-to-day lives. We are convinced

that the smart application of IoT will improve the quality

of life. That thanks to IoT, we will experience a better,

more comfortable, safer, healthier and more sustainable

life.

KPN is at the heart of society. We connect everything

and everyone. The ultimate goal can be a better quality

of life for everyone. A safer, more sustainable and more

comfortable environment for everyone in the Netherlands

is coming within reach.

4.4 An invitation to discuss it furtherYou have read our ideas about IoT in this document.

KPN can play a leading role for you here. We connect

everyone and everything. We can help you to deploy IoT

intelligently to make your organisation more effective.

Would you like to discover what IoT can mean for your

organisation? Then please get in touch with us. We look

forward to helping you to future-proof your organisation.

Contact details KPN Internet of Things

PO Box 19535

2500 CM The Hague

kpn.com/iot

https://twitter.com/KPNIoT

www.linkedin.com/company/kpn-iot

9

kpn.com/iot