The IoT Podcast

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

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Why was eSIM IoT supposed to solve vendor lock in, and why are new forms of lock-in still appearing across the industry?

 

eSIM IoT promised greater flexibility, more choice, and the ability to change connectivity providers without replacing physical SIMs. But as adoption grows, the reality is proving more complicated.

 

In this episode of The IoT Podcast, Jake Gilbert sits down with Henrik Aagaard, Co-Founder & CTO at Onomondo, to unpack the reality of eSIM IoT - exploring what the technology genuinely solves, where the industry is falling short, and what buyers need to consider when choosing an eSIM IoT solution.

 

The conversation explores how traditional SIM-based connectivity created long-term lock-in for IoT deployments, while closed ecosystems, limited interoperability and non-configurable architectures can introduce new forms of technical and commercial lock-in.

 

Jake and Henrik also discuss:

Why eSIM IoT was designed to remove traditional connectivity lock-in

What SGP.32 and the EIM mean for interoperability and control

How closed ecosystems can limit connectivity choices after deployment

The questions buyers should ask before committing to a provider

Why flexibility needs to be considered across the lifetime of an IoT deployment

 

The episode also looks ahead at where eSIM IoT is heading, including the development of more open and interoperable connectivity models and what this could mean for wider IoT adoption.

 

This episode offers a practical look at the realities of eSIM IoT, and why buyers shouldn't simply assume flexibility, but verify it.

 

Chapters…

00:00 Introduction to eSIM IoT

03:29 Why eSIM IoT Matters

06:43 Traditional Connectivity and Lock-In

09:07 What eSIM IoT Gets Right

12:42 SGP.32 and the EIM

17:34 How Lock-In Still Exists

22:40 The Impact of Lock-In

27:21 What Buyers Should Look For

32:08 The Impact on IoT Adoption

36:19 Competition, Innovation and Cost

39:39 The Future of Open Connectivity

44:00 The Road Ahead for eSIM IoT

47:33 Onomondo’s Approach

49:17 Key Takeaways

53:50 Final Thoughts

 

The episode is live on all major listening platforms now! Listen here: https://linktr.ee/theiotpodcast

 

Connect with our guest…  https://www.linkedin.com/in/henrikaagaard/

 

About Onomondo

 

Onomondo is a pioneer in next-generation IoT connectivity, with a fully integrated core network designed to simplify IoT management and development. Our platform helps businesses harness cellular connectivity to deploy IoT applications globally. By bridging cellular networks and the Internet of Things, Onomondo provides a modern, reliable and user-centric connectivity solution for businesses looking to scale with ease and agency.

 

 

Find out more: https://onomondo.com/

 

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The next era of intelligent edge devices is taking shape - but what’s driving real-world deployment, and how are hardware and software evolving to keep pace with such a fast-moving ecosystem?

Welcome to Edge of Tomorrow – The Edge AI Debate, our spin-off series from The IoT Podcast, created in collaboration with the EDGE AI FOUNDATION. This series brings together leading voices from across the Edge AI ecosystem to debate the toughest questions shaping its future.

 

In this episode, host Pete Bernard (CEO, EDGE AI FOUNDATION) is joined by Scott Hanson (Founder & CTO at Ambiq) to explore how ultra-low power compute is enabling the next generation of intelligent edge devices. Starting with the journey from research to commercialisation, the conversation traces how advances in low-power processor design have evolved into technologies now powering hundreds of millions of devices.

It then moves into the realities of building for edge AI today, from balancing long hardware development cycles with rapid AI innovation, to the growing role of software in bridging that gap. The discussion dives into where edge AI is already delivering value at scale, including wearables, smart home systems, industrial monitoring, and medical devices. It also explores the shift from isolated use cases to widespread adoption, with an increasing number of deployed devices now running some form of intelligence at the edge.

This episode offers a grounded perspective on the rise of agentic AI, the relationship between edge and cloud intelligence, and what’s needed to support increasingly complex, real-world systems, exploring where edge AI is today and where it’s heading next.

Expect discussion on…

The role of ultra-low power compute in scaling Edge AI

Hardware vs. software: bridging development cycles

Where Edge AI is already delivering value at scale

Wearables, smart homes, industrial, and medical use cases

The shift from isolated deployments to widespread adoption

Edge vs. cloud: where intelligence actually lives

The rise of agentic AI and system-level intelligence

Chapters…

00:00 Introductions

01:30 The origin of Ambiq and ultra-low power innovation

03:00 Scaling a chip company and market growth

04:00 Hardware vs software development cycles in AI

06:00 Keeping pace with rapid AI innovation

08:30 General-purpose vs specialised architectures

10:45 Moore’s Law and efficiency gains at the edge

13:00 Real-world scale: where edge AI is being deployed

15:30 Wearables, smart homes, and industrial use cases

17:30 Edge AI in everyday life: sensing and inference

19:30 Consumer vs commercial adoption trends

21:30 The rise of “life logging” and contextual data

24:00 Societal and ethical considerations of always-on AI

25:30 Agentic AI and system-level intelligence

27:30 Edge vs cloud: where intelligence actually lives

29:30 Cost, scalability, and moving AI out of the cloud

31:30 Physical AI and robotics opportunities

33:30 Final reflections on the future of edge AI 🎧

The episode is live now on all major podcast platforms Listen here: https://linktr.ee/theiotpodcast

What’s your take? Join the debate!

About Edge of Tomorrow – The Edge AI Debate Edge of Tomorrow is our dedicated debate series bringing together technologists, researchers, and industry leaders to tackle the most pressing and controversial questions in Edge AI. From privacy and security to ethics, ownership, and governance, this series goes beyond hype to explore what it will take to build Edge AI systems responsibly. Our goal is to surface diverse perspectives, challenge assumptions, and give listeners the context they need to navigate one of the most transformative shifts in modern computing.

Why do so many IoT and embedded projects become harder to deliver as they scale, even when the technology itself works?

As IoT and embedded projects scale, the challenge shifts from simply developing the technology… to delivering outcomes reliably.

Not just technically, but commercially and operationally too.

In this episode of The IoT Podcast, Jake Gilbert sits down with Dominik Kujawski, Co-CEO & CRO at needCode, to explore how that shift is changing the way connected products are being built, delivered, and supported across the IoT industry.

Drawing on their experience across wireless connectivity, ultra wideband, BLE, and embedded systems, the conversation focuses on the realities that start to emerge as projects become more complex - from integration challenges and certification requirements, to reducing iteration cycles, avoiding costly rework, and aligning technical delivery with commercial expectations.

Rather than approaching projects as isolated technical tasks, Dominik explains why more companies are moving towards a solution-first mindset starting with the client problem, understanding the operational context, and taking greater ownership of the end result.

Jake and Dominik also discuss:

🎙️ What signals it’s time to move beyond your current business model

🎙️ How starting from the client problem (not the technical solution) changes delivery

🎙️ Why reducing iteration and rework is often where the real value sits

🎙️ What “production ready” means when certification and performance are involved

🎙️ How value is measured differently, beyond day rates or cost

The episode also gives a look at how expectations on delivery partners are changing, particularly as connected products become more intelligent, more integrated and more commercially critical.

This episode offers insight into what it actually takes to deliver successfully in modern IoT environments.

Chapters...

00:00 Introduction to needCode and Its Evolution

03:45 Moving from Capacity to Solutions

08:01 Cultural Alignment and Team Dynamics

12:07 Understanding Client Problems and Delivery Challenges

18:23 Identifying the Right Customer Profile

23:38 Navigating Enterprise vs Startup Environments

25:52 Shifting from Cost to Value-Based Delivery

27:28 The Impact of AI and Edge Computing

33:02 Certification, Interoperability, and Production Readiness

36:17 Differentiation in a Competitive Market

39:26 Real-World Case Studies and Lessons Learned

42:38 Final Thoughts and Future Outlook

The episode is live on all major listening platforms now!

Listen here: https://linktr.ee/theiotpodcast

Connect with our guest… https://linkedin.com/in/dominik-kujawski

About needCode needCode is an IoT development company focused on system integration, architecting, and deploying wireless connectivity solutions for critical applications. Their work spans ultra wideband, BLE, embedded systems, and smart connected products, helping businesses solve complex connectivity challenges and deliver production-ready solutions. Find out more: https://needcode.io/

SUBSCRIBE TO THE IOT PODCAST ON YOUR FAVOURITE LISTENING PLATFORM: https://linktr.ee/theiotpodcast Sign up for exclusive email updates: https://theiotpodcast.com/get-exclusive-access/

Contact us to become a guest/partner: https://theiotpodcast.com/contact/

What does “trust” really mean when AI lives at the edge?

Welcome to Edge of Tomorrow – The Edge AI Debate, our spin-off series from The IoT Podcast, created in collaboration with the  @edgeaifoundation  This series brings together leading voices from across the Edge AI ecosystem to debate the toughest questions shaping its future.

In this episode, host Pete Bernard (CEO, EDGE AI FOUNDATION) is joined by Rosario Cammarota (Chief Scientist, Intel Privacy Lab) and Aydin Aysu (Founder, MithrilAI) to tackle:

Can you trust Edge AI - and if so, where does that trust really come from?

As intelligence becomes distributed across edge devices, the traditional assumptions around privacy, security, and ownership start to break down.

This conversation digs into how trust changes when AI runs locally, whether hardware can (or should) be trusted, and what it means for users, builders, and regulators alike.

From cryptographic techniques like homomorphic encryption to real-world deployment scenarios, the debate explores what it actually takes to build Edge AI systems that are not only powerful, but trustworthy.

Chapters…

00:00 Introductions & debate setup

02:30 What does “trust” mean when AI lives at the edge?

07:10 Edge vs. cloud: control, risk, and responsibility

11:40 Can we secure Edge AI without trusting hardware?

17:20 The role of homomorphic encryption

22:30 Data ownership, governance, and user sovereignty

28:40 Real-world Edge AI deployments and security trade offs

34:10 Final reflections: rebuilding trust in the Edge AI stack 

The episode is live now on all major podcast platformsListen here: https://linktr.ee/theiotpodcast

What’s your take? Join the debate in the comments.

Connect with our guests…

Rosario Cammarota – Chief Scientist, Intel Privacy Lab: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ro-cammarota-a226b817/

Aydin Aysu – Founder, MithrilAI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aydinaysu/

Moderator: Pete Bernard – CEO, EDGE AI FOUNDATION: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernardpete/

About Edge of Tomorrow – The Edge AI Debate Edge of Tomorrow is our dedicated debate series bringing together technologists, researchers, and industry leaders to tackle the most pressing and controversial questions in Edge AI.