IoTie Global IoT Network Service Description

1. Global IoT Service Features

1. General Elements

IoTie Connect Ltd provides global mobile data access and network level media processing for Internet of Things (IoT) device data with the purpose of providing a full service, single source for an IoT Service Provider’s global mobile data access.  The Service provides the underlying services of Mobile Data Access, Network Selection Logic, Global Secure IP Backbone, Device Data Control, Regional Network Gateways, Network Level Analytics, and Application Programming Interface (API), to connect local “smart” devices to the Internet or to specific IoT and other mobile connected services.  The Service is built on top of the IoTie’s private global IP backbone and allows multiple levels of integration with a customer’s IoT solution components from a very manual, full control level to a very automatic “set and forget” level.

1. Embedded SIM (eSIM)/eUICC

eSIMs/Embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Cards (eUICC) are programmable SIMs which can have multiple sets of operator credentials downloaded over the air (OTA) to the card/chip and the single set of active credentials can be swapped among the set of credentials on the chip. The IoTie eSIM eliminates the need to replace SIMs in devices already in the field when operator credentials need to be changed. The IoTie eSIM is pre-programmed with an IoTie global “bootstrap” or “default” operator profile.  eSIMs can be ordered in many formats (e.g. 3FF, 4FF, DFN, BGA etc.), grades (e.g. Consumer or Industrial) and sizes (e.g. 500MB, 1GB, etc.).  Customer can supply branded “artwork” to be printed on physical (plastic) eSIM cards at the time of order, if desired.

Customer must purchase eSIMs/eUICCs from IoTie. The customer is charged a one-time fee for each eSIM at the time of purchase and is charged separate monthly fees thereafter. 

1. Mobile Data Access

The IoTie Global IoT Service is capable of connecting IoT devices to hundreds of mobile networks worldwide in a combination of local or roaming modes.  The Service will provide Customer a single source for global mobile access to mobile operator networks around the world.

The IoTie Global IoT Service allows Customer to install a single SIM in every global device delivered and allows for remote programming of the best available operator credentials when the device is first turned on in the destination country.  Provider intends to add additional mobile network operator (MNO) profiles to the Service over time to provide more choice and a better fit of mobile network data service to devices in each deployed country.

The Customer will purchase mobile network access by zone, country, or MNO.  The Service logic or Customer logic will select among the mobile networks available in the regions or countries purchased when an IoT device requires network credentials.  When Customer selection logic is used, the Service will notify Customer application via the application programming interface (API) when the device turns on or moves to a new operator network location.

The Service implements mobile network access in the form of MNO virtual profiles.  A virtual profile consists of a single set of operator credentials (from a specific MNO) for a single IoT device.  Customer will be charged a monthly “active” fee for each active eSIM in the Customer’s account and for the data usage incurred by every active device as per the customer pricing agreement annex.  The Service will manage an inventory of virtual profiles based on the regions/countries purchased, Customer specified device requirements and actual profile usage.  The Service provides a shared/dynamic inventory management methodology for MNO virtual profile assignment.

1. Network Selection Logic

The Service provides optional multiple mobile network access choices and allows Customer to define network selection based on those attributes that are important to its IoT devices.  Attributes such as mobile technology (5G, 4G, 3G or even 2G), network coverage, network quality, usage thresholds, or other available attributes can be specified.

1. Global Secure IP Backbone

IoT/end user mobile devices will be connected via the Service Mobile Data Access service element and be directed to the Service Global Secure IP Backbone by IoTie’s MNO partners.  The Global Secure IP Backbone is a global, secure, multiservice IP network that supports end-to-end, quality of service (QoS) for device/end user mobile data services.  IoT device/end user mobile data will be processed and carried on the Global Secure IP Backbone until reaching a Service Regional Network Gateway before reaching its final network destination.   The services of the Global Secure IP Backbone are included in the cost of the Service to Customer.

At the core of the network is a private IP backbone that offers IP interconnection to MNOs, including the following features:

• Security—a private IP backbone, the network is not addressable from the public Internet;
• QoS—the network manages end-to-end quality by prioritizing real-time services like voice and video distinctly from less sensitive traffic such as IP messaging, and Provider meets agreed upon service level agreements (SLA) with Service Providers and other IPX Providers;
• Multiservice—the network is designed to support a variety of services, such as VoIP, data, video, messaging, and signaling

Connection to the Global Secure IP Backbone is restricted to authorized mobile and IP networks. The Service Global Secure IP Backbone service element is developed to:

• Comply with GSMA specification guidelines
• Support various connection types from Service Providers (Layers 1, 2 and 3);
• Comply with IP addressing guidelines for Inter-Service Provider IP Backbone;
• Offer DNS root service for contracted Service Providers;
• Offer interconnectivity to other GRXs (GRX peering) and reach all mobile destinations on the GRX network;

1. Media Services

The Media Services portion of the Service includes the Device Data Control, Regional Network Gateway and Managed Internet Service elements of the Service which are charged as part of the Media Services portion.

1. Device Data Control

In addition to providing data path selection based on more sophisticated routing criteria than typical MNO networks, the Service provides an additional level of IoT device data control, allowing Customer to provide advanced data services to their customers. IoTie utilizes a sophisticated traffic analysis engine which provides real time identification and control of IoT device data.

IoT device data control policies such as Blocking Service Usage prior to Payment, Data Path management, Usage management, Data Package Enforcement (pre-paid/post-paid, zero rated), Fair Usage Policies, Quality Control, and other mutually agreed upon policies. can be configured allowing the Customer to offer flexible and customisable communication packages for its customer’s IoT devices.

IoT device data control policies are defined and enforced at a group or individual IoT device level via the API and Administration Portal interface.

Service Device Data Control is offered in both basic and advanced options and is charged separately as part of the Media Services portion of the Service with pricing as shown in the Pricing Annex as applicable.  One basic URL data control policy is included with the basic Media Services portion of the Service.

.

1. Regional Network Gateway

As mobile data from Customer’s connected device enters the Service Global Secure IP Backbone, routing decisions are made based on many criteria including destination IP address, URL, protocol, etc. and the appropriate IoTie Regional Network Gateway is selected to terminate the mobile data stream and forward it to the private application server or Internet server destination.

The Service selects an appropriate in country or in region network gateway to minimize network delay, and as a result, improves IoT device performance/end user experience.  The Service includes monitoring and capacity management of all Regional Network Gateways in the Service Global Secure IP Backbone.

When using the Service, the Customer will configure its IoT devices with the IoTie Access PointName (APN) to direct its IoT data to the IoTie Global Secure IP Backbone.  Once in the network, the routing path for device data can be selected based on more sophisticated routing criteria than in traditional MNO networks.

The IoTie APN is used to assign an IP address to the mobile device and to determine the authentication mechanism to use, either just SIM authentication alone or personal identification number (PIN) plus SIM authentication.  When authentication is complete, an LTE Evolved Packet System (EPS) bearer or GSM Packet Data Protocol (PDP) context is established for mobile data to flow.

1. Managed Internet Service

The Media Services portion of the Service includes a managed Internet service.  IoTie performs capacity management by monitoring the Regional Network Gateway Internet (Gi) interface utilisation.  Internet interface bandwidth is increased as needed to maintain a proper bandwidth utilisation level. As part of the managed Internet service, redundant links to redundant ISPs (“Carrier redundancy”) and domain name service is provided at no extra charge.  In addition to Carrier diversity, Physical diversity is implemented with each of the Provider’s networks.

1. Network Level Analytics and Reporting

Network Level Analytics and Reporting is provided as part of the Service to allow Customer to derive deeper insights into its IoT device behavior and get a simplified, actionable view of data usage with identification and reporting. This service element helps Customer to derive deeper insights into mobile device data by reporting on IoT device network level statistics such as top data usage devices, lowest data usage devices, devices that have stopped sending data, data used per country, wireless connection technology used, and amount of data used by each device.

Service Network Level Analytics and Reporting is offered in both basic and advanced options and is charged as a separate portion of the Service with pricing as shown in the Pricing Annex as applicable. Basic reporting is included with the Service.

1. Application Programming Interface (API)

The Service provides a representational state transfer (REST) application programming interface (RESTful API) web service to allow Customer to integrate with the IoTie Global IoT Service.  The IoTie eSIM Service Specification document defines the REST API features currently offered to parties integrating to the Service.  A number of API functions are made available to the Customer (e.g. Profile Control API, eSIM Information API, etc.) with additional functions added with each roadmap release.

        1.9          Messaging

The Global Access for Things service provides a messaging function between IoT application servers and IoT devices. 

1.9.1       Short Message Service (SMS)

The Service provides SMS messaging for communication to IoT devices and provides multiple methods for delivering those messages; either by application programming interface (API) or SMS email gateway.

1.9.1.1      Application to Device Messaging

IoT application to device messaging is implemented as Mobile terminated (MT) SMS which are SMS messages originated on the IoT application server and terminated on the IoT device.  

1.9.1.2      Device to Application Messaging

IoT device to application messaging is implemented as Mobile originated (MO) SMS which are SMS messages originated on the IoT device and terminated on the IoT application server.  IoT device to IoT device messaging is not enabled.

1.9.1.3      SMS API

The offered SMS API provides a RESTful API for sending SMS messages to IoT devices and for setting a callback URL for receiving messages from IoT devices.  To send an SMS message to a device, a Post command with a text only (7 bit encoding) message is sent to the EID of the chip.  To receive SMS messages from a device, the application must establish a callback function by calling “Set SMS MO Callback” with a desired URL where text only messages will be received. The callback URL will be called by the Service as a POST when an SMS message is sent from the IoT device to the common eSIM short/long code.

1.9.1.4      SMS eMail Gateway

A bidirectional SMS eMail Gateway is also provided.  SMS messages can be sent to an IoT device using email via the Global Access for Things email gateway.  By sending an email the specified message is sent to the IoT device with the given EID.  An SMS reply from the device will be returned to the e-Mail address that sent the message.

For Service Messaging to operate, the SMS policy must be set on all devices that will utilise the Messaging functionality.  SMS message pricing is detailed in the customer pricing Annex.