LIVE FROM GSMA MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS SHANGHAI: Zhao Xianming (pictured), recently installed chairman and CEO of ZTE, used a keynote presentation to talk up the opportunities of IoT, noting it will have a profound influence on human society and daily lives.

But the executive also noted hurdles in the delivery of IoT, such as industry vertical integration, business model evolution and technical challenges related to diverse use cases. And for operators, it was said that they “cannot realise the benefits” by focusing solely on connectivity.

“It is putting more requirement for operators to find a new business model – it is kind of a reorganisation,” he said.

Indeed, an important role will be the IoT integrator, due to the need for integration between service providers, network and device hardware companies, and software players, even before bringing the various verticals into play.

“All parties across the industrial chain have a collaborative, cooperative role in promoting the healthy development of the IoT industry,” the ZTE chief commented.

And, continuing what has been something of a major theme at Mobile World Congress Shanghai, security was also on the agenda.

“If we have caused some uncertainties in society that our data security is breached, in this way IoT deployments will be a huge issue.”