Making IoT Connectivity More Flexible: The Future of Scalable Connectivity

What happens when IoT connectivity becomes more complicated as deployments scale?   In this episode of The IoT Podcast, host Jake Gilbert, Head of 5V Tech, sits down with Jan Buis, CCO & Co-Founder of The IoT Guide, to explore the challenges businesses face when managing connectivity at scale and why more flexible models could offer a different approach.   Jan shares his journey from telecoms and Wi-Fi into IoT, including how the IoT Guide evolved from an MVP focused on connectivity challenges into a platform designed to help businesses manage multiple connectivity solutions. The conversation also looks at the limitations of traditional prepaid and postpaid models, and how the IoT Guide’s wallet approach combines elements of both.   Jake and Jan also discuss: Why IoT connectivity becomes more complex as deployments scale The challenges of prepaid and postpaid connectivity models How the wallet model works and where it can be useful Why hardware vendors are increasingly looking at connectivity as an additional service How white-label connectivity can bring vendors closer to their customers Use cases including backup connectivity and consumer wearables The growing role of eSIM and flexible connectivity models What hardware vendors should consider when choosing a connectivity partner Why understanding how customers use connected products is so important   The episode also looks ahead at how flexible, usage-based connectivity could develop, including the role of eSIM profiles and changing approaches to connectivity in IoT.   Chapters   00:00 – Introduction to IoT Guide 02:57 – The evolution of IoT connectivity 04:26 – Guiding businesses through connectivity 07:03 – Connectivity challenges at scale 09:00 – Prepaid vs postpaid 10:26 – The wallet model 11:46 – Backup connectivity use cases 14:31 – Connectivity as a service 16:39 – How the IoT Guide began 18:48 – Simplifying connectivity 20:58 – Selling connectivity as a service 24:14 – White-label connectivity 29:05 – Consumer wearables 32:02 – Bringing vendors closer to customers 35:52 – The future of eSIM 37:53 – Will flexible models become standard? 40:01 – Choosing a connectivity partner 42:24 – Learning from customer usage 44:28 – The importance of connectivity 45:23 – Final thoughts About The Things Industries The Things Industries is a leading provider of enterprise LoRaWAN® network solutions, enabling companies to build, operate, and scale secure IoT networks. Founded in 2015 and based in Amsterdam, its core product, The Things Stack, is a carrier-grade LoRaWAN Network Server trusted by enterprises worldwide. Its technology powers use cases from cold chain logistics to smart parking, with customers including Bosch, Panasonic, and Deutsche Bahn. Find out more: www.thethingsindustries.com SUBSCRIBE TO THE IOT PODCAST ON YOUR FAVOURITE LISTENING PLATFORM: https://linktr.ee/theiotpodcast Contact us to become a guest/partner: https://theiotpodcast.com/contact/