Followit provides remote safety – with IoT and VoLTE from Telia
Followit AB is Sweden's leading specialist in tracking wild animals, shipments, vehicles, people, and valuable assets. It's a business built on safety and security, where everything needs to work – everywhere, all the time. That's why Followit uses Telia for its IoT connectivity.
Today, Followit offers a wide range of positioning and security products. Their goal is to be the go-to expert in radio tracking and GPS positioning. For Followit, continuously working toward higher security and safety – both for their customers and within their own operations – is a given.
IoT with voice call capability
Followit's products are also used for theft protection, vehicle logistics, and personal safety. They rely on Telia Managed IoT Connectivity – with an added security feature: Voice over LTE-M, or VoLTE. Voice services may not be the first thing that comes to mind with IoT, but they can be invaluable for work in remote areas, for services like personal alarms, or for communicating with people trapped in an elevator. In Followit's case, the technology is used in vehicles, industrial equipment, and personal alarms to enable secure positioning through GPS, GSM, and radio. Voice over LTE also allows a person or a central monitoring unit to call a device and listen to what's happening in an area. This technology provides an additional layer of information that can, for example, capture details about an injured person or stolen goods. This creates a better foundation for decision-making and rapid response.
"For us, it's all about reliability," says Johan Johansson, Tech Lead and IT Manager at Followit. "That, along with exceptional coverage and flexibility. To provide our customers with the best products and guarantee their safety, coverage and reach are critical – even as technology evolves. We need a flexible partner that delivers the best IoT connectivity and helps us reach our goals. That's why we work with Telia."
New technology brings new opportunities
New technology also brings new opportunities for business and product development. 2G and 3G have their limitations, since data and voice can't be used simultaneously. By upgrading to LTE-M with VoLTE, both positioning data and voice can be used in the same session – giving Followit's products an extra layer of security.
"Our customers trust us, which means we have to adapt to changes like the phase-out of older networks. LTE-M gives us enormous potential to develop our products and do more for our customers, since the technology enables both data and voice in the same session," says Johan Johansson.
Finding the right fit
Followit uses Telia's Managed IoT Connectivity with VoLTE for their nearly 10, 000 IoT subscriptions. LTE-M technology is designed for LPWA use – for use cases or applications that require longer battery life but with more advanced functionality. The technology supports data speeds up to 1 Mbps and provides full mobility across Telia's network – which can be used for GPS tracking, for example. LTE-M also handles OTA (over-the-air) security and firmware updates, so Followit can continue to develop and improve their IoT products.
The result? Higher security and reliability with a standardized network technology that fits most IoT needs. The platform is easy to implement, integrate, and manage through a custom portal and multiple APIs. Together with Telia, Followit addresses many common challenges with connecting IoT devices – coverage, reliability, and efficiency – while managing tens of thousands of subscriptions.
"Another advantage is the efficiency – we want the same functionality and platform for our personal alarms as for our theft protection products, which we can now have. Previously, we also couldn't get position updates as regularly as we can now with LTE-M. We have a long-standing relationship with Telia, and they deliver a fully managed IoT platform with coverage even in hard-to-reach areas, far outside our urban centers. Together with Telia, we have control and can offer flexible and user-friendly products to our customers," concludes Johan Johansson.