Verizon said more than 4,000 developers are using ThingSpace, the Internet of Things (IoT) platform that the operator unveiled last October.

The operator also announced plans to open up ThingSpace – designed to make it easier for developers to roll out IoT devices and applications – to third-party network and technology service providers.

A new set of tools, addressing “industry-wide security concerns” surrounding IoT, are also in the pipeline, it said.

When Verizon launched ThingSpace, the operator had an additional aim of developing a new scaleable IoT core within its 4G LTE network for large deployments of low-power connections.

Following completion of design and integration work with Nokia and Ericsson, Verizon claimed that the path was now clear to launch the scalable IoT core network later this year.

Other IoT developments, noted the operator, were a “wide-selection of devices” certified on its existing LTE architecture for IoT applications using low-cost Category 1 chipsets /modules by Gemalto, Sequans and Telit.

Verizon Cloud APIs are also available “to help developers improve consumer experiences for mobile apps primarily used to curate and retrieve photos, videos, music and other cloud-stored content”.

The operator also highlighted a series of new IoT deployments and partnerships in agriculture, healthcare, sustainability, public safety and urban development. Partners include France-based ITK, one of the largest crop modeling companies in the world, and Georgetown University in Washington DC.

“By addressing key barriers at the network, platform and application levels, our mission is to make IoT more accessible to consumers and public sector organisations while allowing businesses, and developers of all sizes to compete in new markets globally,” said Mike Lanman, SVP of IoT and enterprise products at Verizon.

“That’s why we’re so bullish on driving investments, innovations and partnerships on ThingSpace that make market adoption for IoT more pervasive.”

Verizon said its global IoT footprint – with device connectivity – now extended to more than 120 countries and would reach nearly 200 countries by year-end.

Revenues from Verizon’s IoT and telematics businesses totalled $690 million as of year-end 2015.