RCom announces partnership with Jasper for IoT services

RCom sees business from cloud offerings and internet of things under enterprise segment to touch about a fifth of its revenue in next five year

Reliance Communications today said it is in talks with several state governments to bag smart grid and smart city projects as it sees business from cloud offerings and internet of things (IoT) under enterprise segment to touch about a fifth of its revenue in next five years. The company has tied up with US-based Jasper, which provides software for connected machines, IoT though the network of 120 telecom operators globally, to offer its services in India.

“We see opportunities in smart grid, healthcare, goods and public transport sector to offer our services,” said Alok Srivastava, President, Group IT and Innovation of Reliance Group at an event to announce partnership of Reliance Communication and Jasper.

A smart grid is operated through a software programme and network connections and helps save electricity wastages.

Apart from smart grid, RCom said it is also interested to provide internet-enabled services for upcoming Smart Cities through its cloud platform and partnership with Jasper within two-three months.

To start with, the company said all group companies of Reliance Group will be its client for rolling out IoT services. Besides, it is in talks with multiple clients and state governments to offer its services along with Jasper.

The Union government today said it will develop 98 cities into smart cities in next five years. “We are pleased to team up with Jasper in this important deployment of IoT services, enabling businesses across India to build, implement and go to market faster,”said Bill Barney, CEO (Enterprise and Global Cloud Xchange) of Reliance Communications at the event.

The telecom operator has recently launched five cloud connectivity centres across the country. Within five years, earnings from IoT and cloud business to contribute a fifth of its total revenue, he added.

The company is also interested to offer services in smart city projects, where everything starting from crowd management to drinking water delivery will managed through computer programmes and real-time interventions. It said it might bid for Bandra Kurla Smart city project planned by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) .

Global business
Apart from telecom and internet offerings, RCom also has undersea cable networks as part of its global operation. The company today admitted that it was considering the possibility to sell its stake in the global operation to pare some debt.