New Zealand tech leaders invest in non-premise IoT for growth

New research released by Chorus and the New Zealand IoT Alliance indicates a promising innovation potential and growth opportunity for IoT. The study highlights that almost half of New Zealand's technology leaders (48%) are presently investing or plan to invest in non-premise IoT, characterizing the forward-thinking mindset prevalent in the nation's tech space.

The study, titled 'Solving problems with fibre-enabled IoT,' illustrates how New Zealand organisations are fostering a more connected and sustainable future by utilising high-bandwidth non-premise IoT. These organisations are integrating IoT with advanced technologies like AI, cloud, and edge computing to identify growth opportunities and improve efficiency using fibre connectivity, thus paving the way for a thriving future.

Joe Caccioppoli, Head of Growth and New Business, Chorus, observes that the accessibility of cloud solutions, edge computing, device hardware, and generative AI enables tech leaders to leverage their IoT deployments' value. "Advanced technologies extract insights in real-time from vast amounts of data captured by IoT devices to improve decision making and customer experience," notes Caccioppoli. Non-premise IoT, he clarifies, refers to external infrastructure assets, including traffic lights, bus stops, outdoor billboards, and CCTVs, which can be transformed into IoT applications.

Aside from better integration with advanced tools, the desire to provide a superior customer experience fuels the uptake of IoT. Sixty-two per cent of study participants cite world-class customer experience as a leading benefit of their fibre-led IoT investments. Kriv Naicker, Chair of New Zealand IoT Alliance, emphasises the critical role of IoT and non-premise IoT in New Zealand's connectivity landscape. Naicker believes that better usage of IoT could generate at least $2.2 billion in net economic benefits for New Zealand over the next decade.

The study recognises the vast use cases of high-bandwidth IoT, spanning weather resilience, improved road and traffic infrastructure planning, public safety, and security, and utility and waterway infrastructure monitoring. These applications not only enhance citizen and customer experiences but also help to boost productivity and provide considerable cost savings. Businesses like LUMO Digital Outdoor have leveraged fibre connectivity and IoT to enhance smart digital billboards and expand their countrywide presence.

Phil Clemas, CEO of LUMO, credits the company's growth strategy to Chorus' Smart Locations high-bandwidth fibre solution, which offers a multitude of benefits, including 24/7 access to advertising content, real-time audience data, live-streaming video of every screen, and high-resolution creative display.

Caccioppoli expresses that Fibre has revolutionised IoT networks by providing the same speed, bandwidth, and reliability at non-premise locations that buildings enjoy. This advancement is driving the full potential of IoT networks in organisations like Auckland Transport, LUMO, Far North District Council, and Watercare.