NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS Introduces “Pro” for Large-Scale IoT Connectivity
NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS As the number of connected products continues to grow, businesses are facing increasing challenges in managing connectivity, devices, systems and security at scale. Pro addresses these challenges by combining centralized connectivity management, operational automation, system integration and enhanced security capabilities within a unified service environment.
By simplifying the management of large-scale IoT deployments, Pro is designed to reduce operational workloads and management costs while helping businesses maintain reliable services and continue delivering value through connected products.
1. Growing Demand for Large-Scale IoT Management
Industries across Japan are increasingly adopting connected technologies to address labor shortages and improve operational efficiency amid the country’s declining birthrate and aging population. Manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, social infrastructure and mobility are among the sectors using technologies such as autonomous driving, remote monitoring and artificial intelligence to streamline operations and enhance productivity.
NTT Connected products—including vehicles, industrial equipment, surveillance cameras, medical devices and other products equipped with communications capabilities—are playing an increasingly important role in these digital transformation initiatives.
According to GSMA Intelligence², the number of IoT connections worldwide is expected to reach 38.7 billion by 2030, with business-related connections accounting for approximately 63% of the total.³
NTT As IoT adoption expands, the scale and complexity of connectivity management are also increasing. Businesses that once managed several thousand devices may now need to operate tens of thousands of connected products across multiple locations and countries. This creates significant operational challenges, particularly for companies providing connected services in both domestic and international markets.
These NTT challenges include managing the entire SIM lifecycle—from activation and suspension to termination—monitoring communications and device status, integrating connectivity data with external systems, responding to service failures and managing devices deployed across different countries and regions.
At the NTT same time, cybersecurity has become a critical consideration. Connected products and the networks supporting them can be targeted by cyberattacks, including unauthorized communications and malware infections. Businesses therefore need to manage connectivity and devices efficiently while ensuring that appropriate security measures are incorporated into their operations.
2. Key Features and Benefits of “Pro”
Pro combines advanced IoT connectivity management capabilities with built-in security features, including patented security technologies provided as standard.⁴ The service is designed to support the full lifecycle of large-scale IoT deployments, from initial device deployment and SIM activation to ongoing connectivity management, system integration and global expansion.
By bringing these capabilities together, Pro helps businesses streamline operations, reduce management workloads and costs, and strengthen security as their connected-product businesses grow.
2.1 Automated SIM Activation and Configuration
Deploying large numbers of IoT devices can require significant time and effort to configure and activate SIMs. Pro simplifies these processes through a dedicated portal and APIs, enabling businesses to streamline SIM configuration and activation during device shipment and deployment.
The Large-Scale IoT service can also integrate with customers’ existing business systems, allowing processes such as SIM activation, suspension and termination to be automated. This reduces manual work and accelerates the deployment of large numbers of connected devices.
2.2 Centralized Management of Domestic and International Connectivity
Pro enables businesses to centrally monitor SIMs and connected devices deployed across Japan and overseas through a common operational platform. This provides greater visibility into connectivity status and usage while reducing the need for operators to manage multiple systems individually.
The NTT platform can also automate anomaly detection and notifications, as well as processes related to contract and configuration changes. These capabilities help reduce the workload of operations teams and enable them to respond more efficiently to potential issues.
Through integration with security functions, customers can also monitor connectivity, device status and security events from a centralized platform. This enables faster initial responses to abnormal activity and supports the stable and secure operation of connected services.
2.3 API Integration for Value-Added Services
Pro provides APIs that allow SIM information and device status to be integrated with customers’ existing business systems and service platforms.
This NTT Large-Scale IoT capability enables businesses to develop and launch value-added services more efficiently, including remote-control functions, device-status notifications and other IoT-based services. By reducing the development effort required to connect connectivity data with business applications, Pro can support faster service expansion and innovation.
2.4 Real-Time Visibility for Improved Operations and Security
Real-time visibility into communications and device status enables businesses to remotely monitor connected products and investigate issues when anomalies occur. Operators can identify potential causes more quickly, helping accelerate initial responses to failures and reduce the need for on-site intervention.
This NTT Large-Scale IoT can help minimize operational workloads and reduce the risk of service interruptions.
Pro also works with integrated security capabilities to identify unauthorized communications and block communications on an individual-SIM basis. These functions provide an additional layer of protection for connected products and help businesses address security risks associated with large-scale IoT deployments.
2.5 Simplifying Global Expansion with eSIM (SGP.32)
Pro is scheduled to support SGP.32⁵, the next-generation IoT eSIM standard, from March 2027. With this capability, businesses will be able to change communications profiles⁶ through the Pro portal or APIs even after IoT devices have been manufactured and shipped.
This NTT Large-Scale IoT flexibility can simplify international product deployment by allowing a common product configuration to be used across multiple countries and regions, rather than requiring separate product configurations for each market.⁷
The NTT Large-Scale IoT technology will also enable communications service providers to be changed remotely after connected products have entered operation, without physically replacing SIM cards. This gives businesses greater flexibility to adjust their connectivity environments after service launch and optimize communications services as operational requirements evolve.
Supporting the Next Generation of Global Connected Businesses
With theLarge-Scale IoT launch of Pro, NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS aims to address the growing operational and security requirements associated with large-scale IoT deployments. By combining connectivity management, automation, API integration, real-time visibility and security within a unified platform, the service is designed to help businesses operate connected products more efficiently across domestic and international markets.
As Large-Scale IoT companies continue to expand their use of connected products, the ability to manage thousands or tens of thousands of devices securely and efficiently will become increasingly important. Pro is designed to provide the operational foundation businesses need to scale their IoT services, reduce management complexity and continue creating new value through connected products and digital services.
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