Digital transformation has become a dominant driver of business growth worldwide. Analysts project the global market reaching trillions, with continued expansion into North America as companies digitize operations, optimize costs, and boost efficiency. This trend mirrors shifts seen in many economies, including Russia, where the digitalization index rose across most industries in recent years, reflecting a strong push toward data-driven solutions and cost containment. Domestic firms increasingly seek self-sufficient digital tools after supply disruptions, with innovators like the MTS ecosystem playing a pivotal role in substituting foreign technologies with local platforms.
IoT, or the Internet of Things, stands out as a core technology across digital products. It connects devices through private networks, enabling autonomous data exchange and interaction. Specialized software powers the linking of devices, orchestration of their actions, and the processing of collected data through IoT platforms.
Industry analyses point to rapid IoT adoption, with tens of millions of devices anticipated to join networks in major markets in upcoming years. IoT has become integral to modernization efforts in sectors such as energy, housing and utilities, industry, transportation, logistics, healthcare, and agriculture.
Research highlights show top IoT applications clustered in energy and utilities, industrial environments, transportation, real estate, and commerce, illustrating where demand concentrates. This reflects a broader shift toward platform-based ecosystems that support connected solutions across multiple industries.
Import substitution of digital products
During a transitional period, foreign suppliers occupied a large share of the Russian IoT platform market. The exit of many foreign providers created gaps that local developers and digital solution providers began to fill, accelerating domestic capacity and cloud service continuity. The MTS ecosystem emerged as a leading force in this substitution, delivering a suite of digital tools for varied sectors and tasks. In late 2022, the IoT Hub platform migrated to in-house software for building IoT-based products, enabling rapid development with ready-made tools for multiple industries and markets.
Solutions built on MTS IoT technology have been deployed on the IoT HUB platform. An example is a water utility use case that collects and analyzes data from metering devices and pressure sensors, demonstrating practical, real-world application of the平台.
Opportunity Platform
MTS IoT HUB operates as a Platform as a Service (PaaS). Its built-in microservices provide developers with tools to construct their own IoT products and systems for any sector. Users can connect devices, monitor status, and manage operations. The platform also supports integration with other specialized platforms, such as SKAI, which monitors corporate fleets.
IoT HUB supports a broad range of devices—from simple sensors to complex engineering systems. Data monitoring and device management are accessible through a web interface, and third-party interfaces can connect via API. The platform is compatible with various networks and data-transfer protocols, including fixed networks, LoRa, satellite communication, and mobile networks across 2G to NB-IoT standards.
Industry solutions built on this platform include Climate, Data Center Monitoring, Power Supply Monitoring, and Resource Accounting for heat, water, and gas. For example, Climate uses IoT devices to monitor microclimate conditions in warehouses, sending minute-by-minute readings. If parameters drift, alerts are sent to responsible personnel via Telegram or email. Devices in Climate operate across a wide temperature range, with precise humidity and temperature accuracy metrics to ensure reliable monitoring.
Digital for transport: from reducing accidents to saving fuel
Beyond the core IoT HUB, the portfolio includes sector-specific digital products, notably transport Telematics. These solutions provide import substitutions by replacing foreign tracking systems with domestic platforms, including satellite-based solutions for fleet monitoring.
In a strategic move, the ecosystem expanded its transport telematics capabilities through the acquisition of a controlling stake in a specialized firm. This strengthened the portfolio with a platform offering IoT, computer vision, and artificial intelligence to optimize fleet operations, safety, routing, and fuel management.
The accompanying platform integrates with MTS IoT solutions to bolster transportation monitoring, routing, and safety analytics. More than 30,000 vehicles across large holdings benefit from services aimed at reducing fleet costs and enhancing safety and efficiency. Core offerings include basic monitoring, economical driving, fuel control, and advanced safety features like video analysis and status monitoring.
Adopting new driving styles and optimized routing contributes to fewer accidents and lower fuel usage, with improvements in fleet discipline and vehicle condition management greatly boosting overall efficiency.
Ultra-precise geolocation: new opportunities for agriculture
The portfolio also includes LocationPro, a high-precision geolocation service tailored for agriculture, geodesy, and cadastre. It enables centimeter-level positioning within Russia, replacing competing solutions from international providers. LocationPro supports remote control of unmanned farming equipment and rapid response to emergencies, with early deployments in major agribusinesses proving its viability.
Implementing LocationPro can lift profitability by reducing input costs and optimizing resource use. Case studies show reductions in seed, fertilizer, and pesticide usage, along with savings in fuel and lubricants. The service fosters real-time location tracking of machinery and devices through IoT data, while geodetic and cadastral work accelerates and reduces equipment costs. In river navigation, highly accurate coordinates help manage movement, improve safety in low-visibility conditions, and prevent port incidents. The IoT HUB platform aggregates sensor data and highlights deviations through visualization and alerts.