Global IoT, Anywhere You Need It

Interested in being a guest? Email us at [email protected] happens when connectivity grows from a niche tool into the backbone of modern industry? We sit with Erik Brenneis CEO of Vodafone IoT, to explore how a team that started in the M2M era now supports 230 million connections across 180 countries and 760 networks. From connected cars that update themselves over the air to smart meters reshaping utilities, we trace the systems, standards, and strategy that turned scattered pilots into dependable, planet-scale services.Eric breaks down where the demand is strongest—automotive, energy, industrial equipment, payments—and why connected health is surging with pacemakers, sleep apnea devices, and dialysis machines that need authenticated, encrypted, and reliable links. We go inside the operating model: embedded technical teams near customer R&D centers, direct access to experts, and local solutions for complex markets like Turkey, Brazil, and the UAE to meet data residency and regulatory needs without redesigning products per country.Security takes center stage as we contrast consumer SIM behavior with a closed IoT system that authenticates all traffic and blocks unauthorized access. Then we zoom out to the unexpected: conservation stories from tracking seals, rhinos, and whales, and environmental protection through early forest fire detection. Finally, we look ahead to a major shift—evolving from mobile-only to a hybrid mobile plus satellite network through partnerships with Iridium and Skylo, delivering ubiquitous coverage without new hardware. That leap doesn’t just connect more places; it feeds industrial AI with the steady, trustworthy data it needs to drive real outcomes.If you enjoy conversations that blend real-world deployments with what’s next in connectivity, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend who loves tech that actually ships. What would you connect first?Support the showMore at https://linktr.ee/EvanKirstel