1. M2M
- Connectivity value chain
ASPIDER M2M, the fully owned subsidiary of switch your SIM’s and customers between different Radio
ASPIDER Solutions, delivers 1-SIM solutions for Networks of competing operators.
M2M data connection using global GSM and UMTS Support Systems: to support the operations of the
networks. This Whitepaper will give an overview of mobile network the support systems will calculate the
the services of ASPIDER M2M, and it will especially usage of each subscriber, it will together with
highlight the position of ASPIDER M2M in the Mobile functionalities from the core network police the
Value Chain. To do so this paper will cover Mobile communication network to alert on fraudulent usage or
Network basics, the various type of companies malfunctioning devices, it will calculate the bill of each
involved and ASPIDER’s services. SIM or group of SIM’s, and send invoices based on that. It
will match incoming payments to invoices sent, alert on
late-payments and shut-off connections of defaulting
Mobile Network Basics subscribers.
Antenna’s, SIM’s & support Systems: ASPIDER’s services Marketing & sales: with the previous three elements
can be best understood by examining it’s role in the generating the service, last element considers the
Mobile Value Chain, which can be divided in the following marketing and sales of the service. Often operated by one
parts: the GSM/UMTS Radio Network, the Core Mobile of the divisions of the Mobile Network Operator, often also
Network, the Support Systems and the Marketing & Sales done with resellers or MVNO’s: organizations buying large
activities. Doing this we will illustrate the difference volumes of SIM cards and resell to the market, sometimes
between ASPIDER M2M and a MNO (Mobile Network under their brand name. MVNO’s are particularly active in
Operator) or MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator), niche markets, not addressed directly via the mainstream
and the different position ASPIDER M2M has regarding propositions of the MNO’s.
innovation power. See figure 1 for a summary of the mobile value chain.
Radio Network: The first component in the Mobile Value
Chain is the Radio Network: the physical antenna’s in the
field, linking a mobile phone or M2M module via the radio
waves from the antenna to the second element: the Core
Network. Typically there are between 2 to 4 Radio
Networks operating in an area, most commonly owned by
a Mobile Network Operator. Typically, a Mobile Network
Operator will not only use the Radio Network for it’s own
use, but will sell capacity to other Network Operators, for
example for international roaming usage, or to resell the
Mobile Value Chain explained
airtime to MVNO’s or other resellers. Figure 1 – the Mobile Value Chain
Core network: the core network connects to the Radio
Network, and provides various critical systems for the Type of players in the Mobile Communications area
technical operations of mobile connectivity: it knows MNO (Mobile Network Operators): MNO’s are the
where subscribers are, checks if they are allowed on the dominant players in the market: they own a Radio
network and routes voice and data traffic to other Network, and most commonly fully operate, market and
(mobile-) networks or the internet. To check if a device is sell at least part of the services they generate. In general
permitted to connect to the radio network, it will compare MNO’s do sell part of their network capacity in a wholesale
it’s security keys to the key’s present at the Subscriber model leaving others the opportunity to brand, market
Identification Module, the SIM. It also runs critical security and sell it to end-customers. This is in general done the
processes preventing fraudulent usage of the mobile following ways:
network subscriptions. To be truly operator reseller-MVNO: reseller-MVNO’s (Mobile Virtual Network
independent one should own and operate the Core Operators) buy large quantities of SIM cards, print their
Mobile Network, as it is this core which enables you to
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of print. E&OE. All rights reserved. © ASPIDER 2010. 10/2008 version 1.0

2. M2M
- Connectivity value chain
brand name on it and market and sell the service to end- core mobile network via one of the antenna’s of the Radio
customers. Network. Having the bits and bytes finding their entry into
light-MVNO’s: just as reseller-MVNO’s they resell SIM the mobile network via the Radio Network (the antenna’s)
cards although they do part of the support and operations the device will connect with the Core Mobile Network
of the support systems themselves. In M2M, they typically components to gain actual access to the network, and to
buy SIM cards from MNO’s, resell them under their own see its connection being terminated to the internet or
brand and do part of the billing themselves, supported other (mobile-) networks. See figure 3 for an overall
with a Control Centre typically build in front of the existing picture of the data and information flows from an M2M
support systems of the Mobile Network Operator. device connected to the network.
full-MVNO: in case of a full-MVNO, the MVNO does run a
full Core Mobile Network and all necessary support
systems. Most often such a full-MVNO has it’s own Mobile
Network code and Radio Network Access contracts,
providing the full service. There are various voice full-
MVNO’s, although globally there is at the moment only
one full-MVNO for M2M applications: ASPIDER M2M.
MVNE: a Mobile Virtual Network Enabler (MVNE) provides
Figure 3 – overview of M2M connectivity service
outsourcing operations, meaning it will engineer and
operate parts of the services for the Mobile Network
Where M2M devices connect with
Operators or for MVNOs, either in-house on operator
As can also be seen in figure 3 is that M2M data is being
equipment or on its own core network and support
passed via the GSM antenna to the core network where it
systems. ASPIDER Solutions is such a company, providing
is redirected to customer networks or the internet. The
mobile core network and the support systems, mostly on
core-network then passes on information about het usage
its company owned and operated core mobile network and
to the support systems, which will provide usage
support systems. In general MVNE’s act as cost-savers for
information and billing services to the customer who did
Mobile Network Operators and MVNOs. See figure 2 for
deploy the M2M unit.
the place of MNO’s and MVNO’s in the value chain, and
It should be noted here that the GSM antennas act as just
ASPIDER Solutions and ASPIDER M2M.
a layer to route the traffic to the core network: support of
the connection is managed by the core mobile network
and it’s support systems, a.o. the Authentication,
Authorization and Accounting functions, Critical security
features like fraud management and security are managed
Mobile Value Chain explained
by the core mobile network and support systems.
Innovation power
To innovate on billing concepts, SIM solutions and fraud
management and safety features, control over the core
mobile network is essential. It is in the core mobile
network and the support systems the core mobile network
interfaces with, where unique features can be developed.
Figure 2: MNO’s, MVNO’s and ASPIDER in the Value Chain
For example SIM cards or other SIM solutions are serving
as a Subscriber Identification Module for the core network,
M2M devices and the Mobile Network
to authenticate the rightful access to the network.
Deploying M2M devices, the M2M device will (most
Innovating on this, for example by introducing different
probably using a GSM module or modem) connect to the
SIM form factors, or new solutions like software SIM’s
Trademarks and logos are used with permission. Information correct at time
of print. E&OE. All rights reserved. © ASPIDER 2010. 10/2008 version 1.0

3. M2M
- Connectivity value chain
embedded in the module firmware, require full control and 150 GSM networks in 60 countries, it has the unmatched
ownership of the core network solution. capability to offer connectivity in its whole footprint with
one single SIM card.
Technical stability More importantly, having our roots in telecom network
As the M2M devices directly interact to the core mobile engineering we know the importance of good engineering
network, and the management of the service including practices – ensuring your technical solution is met with
fraud management and billing are managed by or via this the right and sound technical features. In addition to this,
core mobile network, the stability of the connection and ASPIDER did take advantage of its technical capabilities
the services surrounding it are mainly dependent on the combined with its long experience in the M2M market to
core mobile network and its support systems. Therefore innovate a unique and unmatched feature set. The bottom
one should test a solution for each type of core mobile line is: ASPIDER is not afraid of being ‘just’ the bitpipe for
network it connects with. As ASPIDER M2M does connect M2M applications. Since we are convinced we build the
to Radio Networks around the globe using its own core most intelligent, the most stable and the most cost
mobile network using ASPIDER SIM cards, devices using efficient bitpipe in the market including a wide set of
an ASPIDER SIM will –around the globe- always connect Value Added Services as centralized, smart data-collection
with one and the same core mobile network. Not only and smart data-management.
does this relieve you from re-testing the solution in case
of new geographical deployments, it also ensures you will ASPIDER’s services for connectivity resellers
only have one billing and support contact for worldwide Having our roots in providing the services and operations
deployment. Bringing you an identical feature set over to enable others to sell connectivity, this is still the main
multiple operators, multiple countries go-to-market approach for ASPIDER M2M. Being a volume
player on providing connectivity and platform
ASPIDER Solutions: functionality, we actively reach out to companies wishing
Outsourced Telecom Engineering and Operations to re-sell, cross-sell or embed mobile connectivity in or
ASPIDER M2M has its roots in ASPIDER Solutions: the with their offering.
leader in Telecom Engineering and Operations Are you in the possession of a brand-name and/or sales
Outsourcing. Its offerings include engineering and force reaching potential M2M connectivity customers?
operations of core mobile networks as well as the various Reach out to ASPIDER M2M to discuss opportunities of
support systems (both operational and business support adding connectivity to you portfolio. Having our roots in
systems) needed to run mobile telecommunication doing this, we have the operational and business support
services. Its customers include Tier-1 Mobile Network systems required to enable you in making your brand
Operators like T-Mobile and Vodafone, and includes mobile or let you sales force sell mobile data. Services
Mobile Value Chain explained
services ranging from full handling of mobile connectivity range from comprehensive real-time billing engines
on the ASPIDER owned and operated core mobile eliminating credit-risk and providing out-of-the box billing
network, to operating the call-center handling customer solutions to manage billing relationships to your
inquiries. customers. Our services range from white-label
In short: ASPIDER Solutions business has always been connectivity for established M2M MVNO’s or module
that of empowering either operators or other manufacturers to ASPIDER M2M branded connectivity for
organizations (reseller MVNO’s) to market and sell the embedded hardware resellers.
connectivity we engineer and operate.
ASPIDER M2M: 1 core-network, worldwide coverage
Benefiting from the ASPIDER Solutions core asset of
efficient and innovative Telecom Engineering and
operations, ASPIDER M2M is for already 10 years active in
the M2M market. With global connectivity now spanning
Trademarks and logos are used with permission. Information correct at time
of print. E&OE. All rights reserved. © ASPIDER 2010. 10/2008 version 1.0

4. M2M
- Connectivity value chain
Figure 4 – Summary of ASPIDER M2M Services
For more information please visit
www.aspidersolutions.com
Mobile Value Chain explained
Contact details:
EMEA (HQ)
Wipmolenlaan 1 Americas
3447 GJ Woerden 81 Washington Street
The Netherlands Salem, Boston
T: + 31 (0) 348-500400 MA 01970, USA
F: + 31 (0) 348-501103 Phone: +1 781 820 4424
M: info@aspidersolutions.com Fax: +1 781 574 4474
W: www.aspidersolutions.com Email: david.traynor@aspidersolutions.com
Trademarks and logos are used with permission. Information correct at time
of print. E&OE. All rights reserved. © ASPIDER 2010. 10/2008 version 1.0