New features specific to SaaS
This page cumulates all the new ThingPark Enterprise features brought by the different 8.1.x software releases, which are specific to SaaS (i.e. not applicable to Self-hosted deployments). See the 8.1 changelog to know more about the split of those features per maintenance release.
Support Cellular IoT (using NB-IoT or LTE-M) RDTP-23437
Starting release 8.1, TPE-SaaS subscribers may connect cellular IoT devices using NB-IoT and/or LTE-M technologies to their ThingPark account.
Cellular IoT uses ThingPark's Evolved Packet Core Connector (EPCC), a ThingPark add-on providing insertion into existing 3GPP mobile operator core using standard-compliant interfaces (S6a, S5/S8) and providing unified device and connectivity management for IoT devices.
Key customer benefits
By integrating both the EPC Connector and LoRaWAN network server, ThingPark provides a unified interface to IoT subscribers which have both LoRaWAN and 3GPP (NB-IoT/Cat-M/LTE) based deployments.
The key benefits are:
- Single layer of device provisioning
- Unique connectivity management layer and services for all technologies
- Homogeneous interface to external Application servers
- Charging/rating capabilities specifically tailored for IoT
- Unique cost-effective licensing model to replace traditional HSS/PGW/PCRF/PCEF modules within 3GPP Core network which are too expensive for IoT use cases
- OSS/BSS APIs that can be used to pre-integrate 3rd party or legacy operator platforms
Feature activation
This feature is deactivated by default. Contact Actility if you want to leverage cellular IoT for your ThingPark Enterprise SaaS subscriptions.
Cellular devices must be associated with a Cellular Connectivity Plan in ThingPark.
Feature limitations
Not applicable.