Middle East operator group Etisalat said it will launch “the region’s first Internet of Things application development and device management platform”.

It is working with Oberthur Technologies and ThingWorx to build and manage the platform, which will “enable customers to develop and deploy innovative new IoT solutions for the growing machine-to-machine market”.

In a statement, the operator said that the platforms will enable it to provide standardised components that can be shared horizontally to support rapid development and lower costs to improve existing industry operations.

“IoT application development platforms will help drive our IoT strategy and build the many innovative services that we are working to bring to market and we are looking forward to bring value to our prospective customers,” said Khalifa Al Shamsi, chief digital services officer at Etisalat.

Etisalat has been a keen supporter of “smart cities”, and said the new platform will be “critical to the realisation” of such efforts.

“Enabling automation and connectivity to billions of objects will transform the way we live. With smart solutions as the norm, Etisalat today is providing the IoT development platforms that will power the future for business and government,” Al Shamsi said.