However, the report – M2M & Embedded Strategies: Telematics, POS, mHealth, Metering & Buildings 2013-2018 - observed that the monetisation opportunities offered by M2M services differ significantly according to the industry to which it is being applied. Thus, while telematics is particularly positive, smart metering, despite high forecast numbers and regulatory drivers, is still struggling to find an avenue for revenue generation. However, in all sectors, service revenues will substantially exceed revenues from managing connectivity throughout the forecast period.
The report also argued that faster mobile broadband networks would impact on M2M use cases, noting that M2M service provision based on 4G LTE technology was beginning to find a market in CCTV, mobile POS (Point of Sale), digital signage and as a backup for fixed broadband services.
Specialist Players Defining Ecosystem
Meanwhile the report found that operators are increasingly deploying sophisticated cloud based APIs (application programming interfaces) to address the increased complexities of the M2M industry. However, it argued that M2M specialist players are the primary creators of the ecosystems behind M2M deployments. “Operators continue to play a fundamental role in M2M,” said report author Anthony Cox, “but there is still significant scope for new players focussing on either new technology approaches, or a particular angle of the M2M market.”