We can define the IoT as follows: The Internet of Things is a system of interconnected computers (i.e. mechanical and digital machines), objects and people, which transmit data over the network using unique identities, without the need for person-to-person communication.
Strong partners: SWITCH and ONIA
SWITCH’s involvement with the IoT began at the Network/Security Working Group Meeting in St. Gallen in June 2017. Representatives from ONIA, introduced The Things Network. They demonstrated The Things Network’s function at the World Café using a temperature sensor as a data collector, and gave an initial introduction to the IoT.
At the ICT Focus Meeting in Lugano in November 2017, Professor Peter Affolter of the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH) gave a precise report on his research activities. In the language of TTN, BFH operates an open, LoRa-based IoT infrastructure for its researchers and students. This enables them to test new applications and test cases under real conditions, with real users, in a real environment. Security was, of course, also a topic of discussion; however, as M2M communications (sensors communicating with applications and vice versa) over the TTN network are encrypted, these questions are relativised for TTN network operators.
SWITCH as a trusted entity
Group work at the SWITCH IoT Day revolved around four questions, which the 40 participants answered as follows.
The IT service providers, researchers and research-focused organisations see the Internet of Things as M2M communication. The sensors are capable of communicating autonomously and securely with their applications via the internet, and vice versa.
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What does the IoT offer universities?
Various answers were provided to this question. The IT service providers saw the value of the IoT as lying primarily in activating researchers and their organisations. Researchers viewed it as important for the acquisition of distributed data in the public interest (data management), which could then be accessed via SWITCH edu-ID. They also see themselves as providers of this data for the purposes of research and innovation, including for industry (data lifecycle management). Research-focused organisations, meanwhile, wanted to introduce new topics into the community, make available a collection of use cases and maintain the diversity of the IoT – LoRaWAN is not identical to the IoT.
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What role should SWITCH play in relation to the IoT?
The SWITCH foundation’s role in the community was described by the service providers as that of a trusted entity. The researchers saw its role as involving the transformation of research activities in industry. The research-focused organisations saw SWITCH as an infrastructure provider – SWITCH operates a TTN back end.
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How does the community view a collaboration with ONIA?
The service providers, researchers and research-focused organisations viewed a collaboration with ONIA as very fruitful. SWITCH and ONIA should come together as a legal entity. The participants see a significant opportunity to cover the whole value creation chain, from infrastructure providers and knowledge distribution to full service providers, through a collaboration with ONIA. They laid stress on SWITCH’s core competencies as a network provider in this regard.
Looking forward
The above statements indicate that the relationship between SWITCH and ONIA provides a foundation for a successful IoT (LoRa based) environment. A memorandum of understanding between SWITCH and OINA will be signed as a result of this, and the interplay of relationships between TTN, ONIA and SWITCH clarified. The roles of SWITCH and ONIA will be derived from this memorandum. It is therefore possible that the SWITCH foundation may take on the role of operating a TTN back end for Switzerland. The image of a trusted entity needs to be introduced and established.
With regard to the provision of services, SWITCH could follow the principle of being a one-stop shop for Swiss universities and research institutions. ONIA would maintain contact with the open-source scene and the economy, and, together with SWITCH, expedite the development of a community. ONIA would also provide a link between SWITCH and the TTN foundation, promoting TTN at a global level, and would ensure compliance with the TTN Manifesto within Switzerland.
