"Big five" of digitization are Europe's chance:
1. Standards: consortium for Industry 4.0 formed with SAP
2. Big data: Federal Data Protection Authority gives green light for Deutsche Telekom model
3. Security: simple, free, basic provision for all
4. Platforms: Deutsche Telekom launches "Cloud der Dinge" (Cloud of Things) for Industry 4.0
5. Connectivity: always in the best network with new digitization packages
Deutsche Telekom plans to drive forward the digital economy with new alliances and products. The five most important drivers of the trend are: standards, data analysis, security, cloud platforms and connectivity – the "big five" of digitization. "If Germany wants to lead the world in the networking of production and products, it must speak with one voice in Europe and in the world," said Deutsche Telekom Board of Management member and T Systems CEO Reinhard Clemens. "That will give us the best chance for Wirtschaftswunder 4.0 – digitization made in Germany," added Clemens, underlining Deutsche Telekom's stand motto for CeBIT in Hanover.
Standards: consortium for Industry 4.0 formed with SAP
Deutsche Telekom and SAP are forming a consortium to permanently establish Industry 4.0 from Germany as world-leading. The merging of production technology with IT and telecommunications gives rise to new value creation networks. That is why industry needs new control possibilities and thus also standards. "We want to create de-facto standards simply, pragmatically and quickly," said Clemens. He added that the consortium is open to other partners; talks with industry are already underway. "We don't need to fear standards from the United States. We want Germany's voice to be heard as well on such an important issue."
Big data: Federal Data Protection Authority gives green light for Deutsche Telekom model
With the Internet of Things, people and machines are producing rapidly rising amounts of data. To enable the worlds of business and science to effectively harness this data for new business and process models in compliance with data privacy, Deutsche Telekom is offering a new solution: Data analysis works with anonymized, grouped mobile communications data. This prevents identification of individual cell phone numbers. For the information groups of zip code, age and gender, users can decide for themselves whether or not their data is to be used (opt-out). "This goes beyond the legal requirements and makes us a pioneer for fair and transparent data analysis," explained Clemens. Deutsche Telekom's new model has convinced the Federal Data Protection Authority headed by Andrea Vosshoff: Following in-depth examination, it has given the green light for the first time for a solution of this kind.
The first pilot project illustrates the advantages for passengers on public transport: Nuremberg's local public transport company, VAG Nuremberg, plans to use the solution to improve traffic management in the metropolitan area. Compared with earlier manual counts, this new form of analysis delivers an accurate overall picture for the first time of how traffic flows through the Nuremberg metropolitan area throughout the course of the day, and which means of transport are used how often. "Ultimately, passengers will benefit from this in terms of better connections and optimized timetables," said Clemens.
Security: simple, free, basic provision for all
The greatest security gap in the digital society today is the unsecured devices of consumers and small companies. In order to address this issue, Deutsche Telekom is entering into partnership with four security providers: Avira (antivirus software), Steganos (encrypted VPN connection), Strato (secure data back-up in German data centers) and Secomba (encrypted data storage on all storage media). Together with these four providers, the Group has put together a new, free protection package for consumers as well as small and medium-sized companies. This bundles together the partners' free products in one place, making it particularly easy for users to access them and protect their devices. This package will be available in the second quarter.
"Security must not be allowed to fail due to complexity," said Deutsche Telekom Board of Management member Clemens. All four partners are from Germany. "This strengthens the German security industry." Deutsche Telekom plans to expand the offering with further partners and products. In the future, there is also to be a premium version with additional functions.
Deutsche Telekom launches "Cloud der Dinge" (Cloud of Things) for Industry 4.0
In order to help big industry and medium-sized companies in their digitization strategies simply and without the need for large individual investment, Deutsche Telekom is launching two new cloud-based platforms. For corporations, the Group is presenting the "Connected Industry Platform" at the trade fair. "To start with, we only connected vehicles for the automotive industry. The new platform now allows our customers to connect all kinds of things easily," explained Clemens. "So it is a platform for all industries."
Former pilot projects are now in real operation – including port logistics in Hamburg, and the platform for a million connected vehicles. The latter is already a top export: Deutsche Telekom has established a joint venture with China Mobile on the connected car. In the world's biggest automotive market, there are more than 140 million vehicles on the roads.
Hamburg's port authority, SAP and Deutsche Telekom have just signed an agreement concerning the connection of container terminals with trucks. The improved logistics substantially increase the movement of goods at the port.
In order to make it easier for medium-sized companies to get on board with Industry 4.0, Deutsche Telekom is now offering the new "Industry 4.0" package. This makes it easy for small and medium-sized enterprises to connect machines and monitor their production worldwide. The package contains: hardware, SIM card and data rate plan, as well as access to the platform, all highly securely and from the Deutsche Telekom cloud. At CeBIT, Deutsche Telekom is providing interested machine manufacturers and equipment makers with free developer packages to try out scenarios. Companies that then want to take the next step will get three Industry 4.0 boxes free of charge, so they can test real integration at their company.
Connectivity: always in the best network with new digitization packages
At CeBIT, Deutsche Telekom is demonstrating five digitization packages specifically designed for SMEs: IP, Office, Hotspot Plug’n’Play, Industry 4.0 (see above) and MagentaEINS Business. They all address different needs of small and medium-sized companies and always use the best Deutsche Telekom network.
The Group presents the brand new Hotspot Plug’n’Play, which enables businesses to provide free Wi-Fi to their customers without any liability risk, allowing people to get straight online without having to log in. The hotspot provides two separate areas: one for the business and one for visitors. "This allows coffee shops, libraries or boutiques to offer a customer experience that makes a trip downtown more attractive to online enthusiasts," said Clemens. The equally new MagentaEINS Business package now also offers business customers combined fixed network and mobile products and services, providing them with an IP and a mobile connection, as well as a cloud component. MagentaEINS for consumers was launched last year at IFA.
Experience our products and services live at CeBIT from March 16-20 at Deutsche Telekom's stand C26 in hall 4.
Deutsche Telekom's entire presence at the trade fair is carbon-neutral: All CO2 emissions generated in setting up and operating the stand are offset fully by carbon-reduction projects abroad.
About Deutsche Telekom
Deutsche Telekom is one of the world's leading integrated telecommunications companies with around 151 million mobile customers, 30 million fixed-network lines and more than 17 million broadband lines (as of December 31, 2014). The Group provides fixed-network, mobile communications, Internet and IPTV products and services for consumers, and ICT solutions for business customers and corporate customers. Deutsche Telekom is present in more than 50 countries and has approximately 228,000 employees worldwide. The Group generated revenues of EUR 62.7 billion in the 2014 financial year – more than 60 percent of it outside Germany.