Ever wondered how your phone calls and texts always find the right person? It's all about a complex network with its own language. One key term you might encounter is MSISDN which stands for Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number.
Industrial IoT, also known as IIoT, represents a dynamic ecosystem comprising a multitude of interconnected devices, sensors, advanced applications, and the accompanying networking infrastructure. These elements interact to gather, monitor, and dissect data obtained from various industrial operations.
Based in Sydney, Australia, NetComm has been a leading innovator in the field of telecommunications and connectivity since its founding in 1982. NetComm's product range includes a diverse selection of networking hardware, software, and services, with a notable specialization in IoT (Internet of Things) gateways.
Cisco Edge Software Solutions are represented by two basic tools - Edge Device Manager and Edge Intelligence, which enhance connectivity, ensure security, and foster efficient data management at the edge.
LTE Cat-M2, which is an upgrade of LTE Cat-M1, is the LPWA cellular technology, launched to enhance IoT connectivity. It provides an enhanced IoT connectivity solution with significantly improved bandwidth, download and upload speeds, and other notable advantages.
LoRaWAN or Long-Range Wide Area Network, is now a leading technology within the license-exempt low power wide area (LPWA) space. LoRaWAN networks are typically laid out in a star-topology in which gateways relay messages between end devices and a central network server.
IoT SIM cards comprise multiple data including the IMSI or International Mobile Subscriber Identity which works as a unique identifier for mobile subscribers. It is comprised of three distinct digit parts: Mobile Country Code (MCC) shows the primary operating country of the subscriber and is represented by 2-3 digits.
USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) is a communication protocol that enables the transmission of small data packages without the need for a data connection or incurring SMS costs. It is commonly used for sending concise requests and commands, with a maximum limit of 182 characters (16 bits of data).
As per a recent report by Berg Insight, the global count of waste collection locations integrated with smart waste sensor technology hit 657,000 in the year 2020. Waste sensors offer an efficient means to monitor and optimize waste collection, enabling more effective resource allocation in waste management.
Ensuring vehicle reliability is the major driver of telematics and vehicle diagnostics, as the early detection and prevention of costly issues can be an appealing feature for many consumers. Consequently, maintaining a reputation for producing dependable vehicles will motivate manufacturers to embrace the feature or collaborate with independent manufacturers.
The usage-based insurance or insurance telematics market is experiencing robust growth, with Europe and North America being the primary regions for these programs and active policies. Berg Insight estimates indicate that there were 12.8 million insurance telematics policies in Europe by the end of 2019.
According to Statista, in 2020, the worldwide market for supply chain management was assessed at 15.85 billion U.S. dollars, and it is projected to nearly double, reaching approximately 31 billion U.S. dollars by the year 2026. IoT solutions provide transparency and precision across various aspects of the supply chain.
According to Transforma Insights, the number of connected devices within Remote Diagnostics, Monitoring and Process Control reached almost 82.5 thousand and is projected to be 96.7 thousand in 2026. The core of such growth is IoT, which fosters automated adjustments and operational efficiency, enhances safety and reduces costs.
The market for smart city lighting is constantly expanding, driven by evolving customer preferences, a desire for enhanced comfort, and the growing emphasis on sustainability and energy conservation. Organizations are actively exploring the potential of lighting systems, not just for sustainability benefits, but also to elevate employees’ productivity and overall well-being.
According to Berg Insight, currently, approximately 28 percent of the world's 15 million vending machines are connected, and it is anticipated to reach 8.9 million units by 2024. Consumers are increasingly favoring the convenience, security, and operational efficiency offered by digital payment methods, making these connected vending machines a strategic response to evolving preferences.
In 2020, Berg Insight reported that there were approximately 800,000 installed in-field sensor systems and remote-control units used for crop control and irrigation. Such stats are driven by smart irrigation's ability to enhance water resource management, reduce operational costs, and improve crop quality and yields.
According to Transforma Insights, the total count of Grid Operations devices is projected to increase from 26 million in 2020 to 92 million by 2030. IoT grid management (electricity grid, water grid & gas grid) enhances utilities by improving efficiency, resilience, and sustainability. It optimizes resource allocation, reduces downtime, and enables proactive maintenance, making critical systems more robust and reliable.
Buildings are responsible for a significant portion of global energy consumption, with one-third of the world's energy used within them. As of the Transforma Insights report, the total number of Building Automation devices will grow from 358 million in 2020 to 1.6 billion in 2030, with a CAGR of 16%.
The service robotics market is rapidly evolving, with robots finding applications in both consumer and professional sectors. It shows a substantial market potential, spanning from litter robot customer service and food service robots to telepresence and surgical robots.
Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is emerging as a vital method in numerous countries for handling the growing population of individuals with chronic illnesses. According to Statista, approximately 56 percent of surveyed hospitals stated that they had already integrated remote patient monitoring, while roughly a quarter had intentions to implement this technology within the next twelve months.
According to Statista, the global predictive maintenance market is expected to reach a size of 64.3 billion U.S. dollars by 2030. The growth of the market value as well as the number of predictive maintenance devices is explained by their ability to predict when industrial equipment or machinery may face failures and prevent them.
The world is undergoing a continual shift away from traditional coin and paper-based payment methods like cash and checks towards electronic alternatives, including payment cards and mobile phone payments. According to Berg Insight, in 2021, the global number of installed Point of Sale (POS) terminals reached almost 231 million units, while specifically mobile (mPOS) terminals are expected to grow from 91 million units in 2021 to 135 million in 2026.
Personalized medication dispensing solutions offer valuable support for patients who struggle with medication adherence. As reported by the NCBI, more than half of patients fail to adhere to their prescribed medical regimens, and this non-adherence contributes to over 10% of all hospital admissions, resulting in 125,000 fatalities annually, while imposing an annual economic burden ranging from USD 100 billion to USD 289 billion.
According to Berg Insight, by the end of 2023, the annual shipments of connected wearables are projected to reach 239 million units. Wearable activity trackers and connected fitness devices currently dominate the market, with decreasing prices and expanded capabilities expected to drive shipments to 88.9 million units in 2023.
The primary driving force behind the growing number of smart water meter installations is the water scarcity concern, which implies high water consumption, water losses, and leakage issues. Another compelling factor is the ability of smart water meters to monitor and diagnose water usage patterns in residential, commercial, and industrial settings, while also providing detailed cost tracking for resource management.
IoT-driven inventory management presents a cost-effective and superior alternative, offering enhanced efficiency, accuracy, and timeliness compared to traditional approaches.
The significant growth of Infrastructure Monitoring devices is driven by the increasing demand for real-time data and the integration of IoT technology to enhance the efficiency and reliability of infrastructure systems, including the applications like such as dam and reservoir monitoring, construction management, bridge monitoring, rail tracking, and more.
The lack of healthcare personnel is a growing concern nowadays, with over 9 million nurses needed by the end of 2030 according to World Health Organization. Clinical environment patient or hospital monitoring is a logical step in tracking patient health status with the help of solutions like Telemedicine Intensive Care Unit, as well as preventing in-hospital falls.
Out of the 18,000 customers 1NCE serves today, over 13% are from the automotive sector. which are based in 39 countries.
250+ of our customers have set up their remote monitoring, clinic environment management, medication dispensing, healthcare asset tracking, and more solutions across over 35 countries.
1NCE's utility customers represent 21% of the whole base with projects spanning 37 countries, driving innovations in smart metering and sustainable energy solutions.
13% of all 1NCE consumers are active in transport and logistics, including asset tracking, equipment rental monitoring, commercial vehicle telemetry, cold chain monitoring, remote food & and beverage monitoring, and other solutions.
HLR is a central database that serves as a reference point for storing and retrieving essential subscriber parameters. It holds critical information associated with mobile subscribers, including their unique subscriber IDs, current locations, authentication keys, and other relevant data.
The Mobile Switching Center (MSC) is a core part of the GSM/CDMA network that serves as a control center within the Network Switching Subsystem (NSS).
Intel NUC, a pioneer in IoT edge computing from the United States, specializes in providing compact yet powerful edge computing hardware. Their NUC series encompasses edge servers equipped with Intel processors, offering high-performance computing for real-time analytics and local data processing. The devices include embedded systems that facilitate on-device processing and seamless integration into edge environments.
The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) into healthcare helps to receive real-time data and support remote monitoring capabilities, which hence improve patient outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs. IoT connectivity, in particular wireless cellular connectivity and LPWA technologies, are widely adopted as they can function in wireless, mobile, and hard-to-reach environments.
Dell Technologies is a multinational company, based in the US, with a broad manufacturing portfolio. Beyond computers, laptops, and servers, Dell is a manufacturer of IoT gateways.
Cisco Systems, commonly known as Cisco, is a multinational technology company headquartered in San Jose, California, USA. The company specializes in a wide range of products and services, including networking hardware, software, and services for businesses, service providers, and government organizations. Among its products are IoT gateways, which facilitate seamless connectivity, data aggregation, and secure communication for IoT devices and sensors across various industries and applications.
AWS IoT Greengrass is a cloud service and open-source edge runtime for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. It enables creation of intelligent device software, offering local processing, messaging, data management, and machine learning inference. It includes pre-built components to expedite application development.
According to Berg Insight, the number of active in-field monitoring and control devices that can be applied to Pest Control is anticipated to reach 1.7 million units by 2025. Smart Pest Control solutions using IoT connectivity are emerging as a game-changer, offering precision, sustainability, and enhanced crop protection.
Learn more Berg Insight research (berginsight.com)
A multitude of devices seamlessly exchange information. From personal computers and mobile phones to burgeoning Internet of Things (IoT) applications, this interconnected environment thrives on efficient communication protocols.
The data storage and analytics market has witnessed a transformative journey, evolving from the structured confines of data warehousing to the considerable, uncharted territories of data lakes. With the evolution of records storage and control, a unique concept emerged, bridging the distance between data lakes and data warehouses – the "data lakehouse."
IoT technology, with a particular focus on connectivity, is emerging as a powerful catalyst for sustainability transformation. Research conducted by Gartner, Transforma Insights, Berg Insight, and the US Department of Energy highlights its versatile contributions to environmental conservation. These contributions range from reduced CO2 emissions to water conservation achieved through remote management and analysis.
The Internet of Things has dramatically facilitated humans’ lives, creating a vast ecosystem of remotely controllable devices. At the same time, progress doesn’t stand still and the global IoT market is expected to grow to 24.1 billion devices in 2030, generating $1.5 trillion in annual revenue.
Network providers put a lot of hours and technology into ensuring that all devices connected to the Internet of Things are always reliably available. However, IoT developers and end users alike have additional tools available to optimize their devices and platforms so that they work reliably with communication networks.
This article is the first of three about IoT connectivity and the choice of standards. In this part we emphasize on licensed vs. unlicensed radio technology standards and want to investigate into some common communication standards for Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) use cases to give you a better understanding what you should aim for, depending on the project you’re developing.
Anyone who talks about IoT and cellular mobile radio is confronted with a multitude of terms, especially regarding the different standards. Here is our overview of mobile radio standards from the past, the present and the near future.
Connecting M2M applications with SIM cards is not really a new phenomenon. The so-called Machine-to-Machine communication is quite often associated with the Internet of Things, in short IoT. But what is difference of both terms, M2M and IoT? Do you need different SIM-Cards for M2M solutions than for IoT applications?
NB-IoT vs. LTE-M: What are the strengths of each technology? For which areas of application are they best suited? We give answers.
There are many ways to extend battery lifetime in cellular networks. PSM and eDRX are only two of them. In our multiple part blog series, we want to take a closer look on how developers can get the maximum runtime out of their devices and where to expect obstacles.
MQTT, CoAP and LwM2M: An important factor for the energy consumption of an IoT device is the volume of data that is transmitted with each communication. The more data, the longer the device must remain active and the greater the power consumption. Choosing the right communication protocol can save a lot of energy.
Mobile operators shutdown old networks to make space for new technologies. While consumers usually won't be affected much by the technology change, it can have a huge impact on IoT installations. What can you do to avoid sudden device disconnection?
We currently assist more than 1,200 customers involved in pest control, crop monitoring, smart irrigation, bee colony analysis, and other scenarios, constituting 8% of 1NCE customer base.
In mid-sized and large cities, over 20% of cars are constantly searching for parking spaces, and it takes an average of 20 minutes for a driver to find a parking spot. For instance, Europe faces the deficit of 400,000 parking spaces, while China faces an estimated shortage of 80 million parking spots as for Transforma Insights. This growing challenge is intensified by the high rate of vehicle ownership and a shortage of available parking spots, which results in extended search times, higher urban congestion, time wastage, and increased emissions.
Smart metering holds a significant position among utility use cases, primarily because it addresses key challenges in the utility sector and aligns with broader technological trends, such as energy management and cost efficiency.
Berg Insight's analysis indicates that the comprehensive market worth of precision agriculture solutions stood at €2.7 billion in 2020. With a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8 percent, it is anticipated that the market value will attain €3.7 billion by the year 2025.
With concerns related to gas consumption, resource management, and environmental impact, the role of IoT-based smart meters in monitoring and diagnosing gas usage patterns is constantly growing. The total count of smart gas meters is anticipated to grow from 156 million in 2020 to 456 million by the end of 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11%.
By 2030, an estimated 2.2 billion electricity smart meters will be in operation. The major drivers for this trend include energy conservation, the desire to curb electricity theft, improved load-balancing capabilities, and the expanding use of renewable energy sources.
McKinsey states that the worldwide market for fleet telematics hardware, software, and services is projected to achieve an annual growth rate of approximately 23% over the next six years, ultimately evolving into a $75 billion sector by 2025.
One of the most extensive IoT-enabled applications within Retail is electronic shelf labeling which encompasses 2.7 billion connected devices according to Transforma Insights. The rapid adoption of wirelessly powered Electronic Shelf Label (ESL) systems/digital price tags is set to revolutionize retail pricing and efficiency.
eCall, short for "Emergency Call," has emerged as a critical component of IoT-driven automotive solutions. The primary driving force behind the widespread implementation of emergency calling systems is the desire to enhance road safety. The overarching aim is to decrease the number of severe injuries and fatalities resulting from accidents.
Utilizing crop monitoring and management techniques can result in substantial reductions in both power and water usage while simultaneously boosting crop yields, which explains the growth of specific agriculture equipment and IoT connectivity used within crop monitoring application.
According to Berg Insight, market potential for consumer asset tracking is substantial. In Europe and North America, there are significant numbers of potential users, including 70 million children aged 4-10 years (a typical age group for kids' GPS watches), 350 million dogs and cats, 500 million passenger cars, and 135 million other consumer vehicles.
Both carsharing and micromobility sharing play crucial roles in transforming urban transportation, reducing congestion, and promoting sustainable and cost-effective mobility solutions for cities worldwide. Connected public transport reduces fuel consumption by 10-15%.
According to Berg Insight, the European transport management systems (TMS) market, including asset tracking, was estimated to be approximately €0.9 billion in 2021. It is expected to experience steady growth, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.7 percent, leading to a forecasted market value of €1.5 billion in 2026.
Smart Cities is one of them ajor growth sectors in IoT, constituting over 1000 customers in 1NCE portfolio, including Street Lighting, Waste Management, Smart Parking, and other use cases.
1NCE is the preferred choice for Point-of-Sale Terminals, Electronic Shelf Labeling, and Bending Machines within the Retail Sector, spanning major regions such as the US, UK, EU, South Korea, Japan, and China, with typical deployment sizes ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 devices.
Infrastructure holds a strong 17% share of 1NCE customers’ portfolio, optimizing global infrastructure monitoring with IoT.
Consumer IoT covers multiple IoT use cases, prominently related to Wearables, Consumer Asset Tracking, Service Robotics, and Home Appliances across the US, UK, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Japan, and China.
12% of 1NCE customers run Industrial Automation use cases, such supply & cold chain monitoring, predictive maintenance, remote diagnostics, building automation, and more.
With the growth of global population and the need for sustainable agriculture, IoT connectivity is being used more often to optimize work processes, improve crop yields, reduce resource consumption, and ensure food security for future generations. Let's explore the key hardware employed in the realm of smart farming and their various practical applications.
On December 21, 2021, Berg Insight reported that Europe and North America had a combined 49 million monitored alarm systems by the end of 2020. In Europe, this number is expected to grow to 20.4 million by 2025 at a 4.0 percent CAGR, while North America is projected to reach 36.4 million systems by 2025 with a 2.4 percent CAGR. Traditional alarm systems often lack real-time data capabilities and intelligent responses, resulting in limited effectiveness. However, with IoT technology, organizations are changing the way they protect their assets and respond to security threats. Learn more about alarm and security systems powered with IoT with Berg Insight.
IDC's projections for 2023 indicate a modest 2.2% increase in smart home device shipments, with this growth trend anticipated to extend through 2027, culminating in a total of 1.23 billion devices by then. The segments like security cameras, connected doorbells, door locks, and smart displays are poised for growth, driven by an expanding user base, global economic recovery, and the development of emerging markets. The advent of IoT (Internet of Things) technology is reshaping the way we interact with and optimize our living spaces. Explore more about how conventional households turn into smart homes, delivering enhanced convenience, energy efficiency, and better security features. Learn more about Smart Home and IoT trends in the IDC report.
Smart Buildings, powered with IoT connectivity, have emerged as intelligent ecosystems where data-driven automation, analytics, and real-time insights change the way we interact with built environments. With IoT interconnected systems it is possible to enhance comfort, security, and resource management, while also reducing environmental impact. From intelligent lighting and climate control to predictive maintenance and occupancy analytics, the possibilities of IoT in Smart Buildings are gradually changing urban living and commercial spaces.
AWS IoT Analytics is one of AWS solutions for analysis of data originating from IoT devices. The platform excels in real-time data collection, agile processing through Lambda functions, purpose-built time-series storage, and advanced analytics with ad-hoc SQL queries and hosted Jupyter Notebooks. Applications span predictive maintenance, proactive replenishing, process efficiency scoring, and smart agriculture.
According to Statista, the worldwide market for intelligent waste disposal management was valued at approximately $2 billion in 2022. It was projected to experience a consistent annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.98% until the close of the decade, with the aim of reaching $6.2 billion by 2030. Incorporating IoT into industrial waste disposal management transforms traditional practices. By integrating sensors, IoT connectivity options that enable remote control, and data analytics, it's possible to adopt more sustainable waste practices globally.
Teltonika is a leading provider of IoT modules, devices, and solutions originating from Lithuania, offering a diverse range designed for various applications.
Telit Communications is an international company specializing in providing wireless communication modems and services for the Internet of Things (IoT).
Armis Centrix stands as a cybersecurity solution for oversight, protection, management, and optimization of Operational Technology (OT), Internet of Things (IoT), and Industrial Control Systems (ICS) assets, systems, and processes within diverse environments.
Thales IoT SAFE is an interoperable IoT security service designed for the deployment of IoT applications. Operated as a plug-and-play Software as a Service (SaaS), it implies minimal integration efforts and automated cloud data security environment for SIM-equipped IoT devices. In collaboration with TELUS, a leading Canadian mobile network operator, and the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA), Thales provides SIMs and the IoT server, adhering to the "GSMA IoT SAFE" specifications.
AWS IoT Device Management, as part of Amazon Web Services (AWS), plays a vital role in facilitating robust IoT device management strategies. It stands as one of AWS's services, offering customers the capability to securely enroll, organize, monitor, and remotely administer IoT devices at a large scale.
Azure IoT Hub is a cloud-based managed service that is a central messaging hub for communication between an IoT application and the devices. It supports diverse messaging patterns such as device-to-cloud telemetry, file uploads, and request-reply methods for IoT device control.
Azure IoT Edge as a part of Azure IoT Hub, a device-focused runtime provided by Microsoft that improves the deployment, execution, and monitoring of containerized Linux workloads. This runtime allows businesses to use cloud analytics closer to their devices, enabling better insights and offline decision-making. With Azure IoT Edge, you can run analytics at the edge, respond quickly to emergencies, and optimize data transfer to the cloud.
Google Cloud Platform (GCP) provides solutions for IoT analytics mostly via Google Cloud IoT Core suite for scalable and efficient analytics capabilities for handling IoT data.
The Oracle Retail Suite is a specialized software solution catering to the Retail vertical. It provides retailers with specific tools to manage inventory, improve customer experiences and operations through the integration of IoT technologies.
Honeywell Forge is a specialized software solution designed for verticals such as Building Management and Industrial applications. This technical powerhouse serves as a unified platform, using IoT technologies to enhance operational efficiency, optimize resource utilization, and ensure a secure and connected environment within these specific verticals.
Azure Stream Analytics is a managed cloud-based stream processing engine by Microsoft Azure, which operates as a Platform as a Service (PaaS) without the need for users to manage underlying hardware or infrastructure. This service is designed for the analysis and processing of large volumes of streaming data with sub-millisecond latencies.
Bosch Mobility Solutions centers its software approach on transforming vehicles into digital platforms, continuously collecting, storing, and utilizing data to improve services and functionalities. This software-centric strategy enables vehicles to evolve dynamically throughout their lifecycle, offering continuous updates and improvements.
NXP Semiconductors, headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands, is a global semiconductor leader renowned for its IoT sensors and connectivity solutions. Originally part of Philips Electronics, it became independent in 2006. NXP specializes in microcontrollers, IoT sensors, and connectivity chips, offering comprehensive solutions for IoT applications. Their services include software development tools, system integration support, and technical assistance.
Analog Devices (ADI), headquartered in Norwood, Massachusetts, is a global leader in the IoT sensors manufacturing. ADI specializes in advanced sensor technologies, offering precision measurement sensors, temperature sensors, accelerometers, and inertial measurement units (IMUs).
STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor manufacturer known for its sensor technologies, with origins dating back to the merger of SGS Microelettronica and Thomson Semiconducteurs in 1987. They offer a wide range of sensors, specializing in IoT applications.
OpenVPN is an open-source virtual private network (VPN) protocol that utilizes SSL/TLS encryption to create secure and encrypted tunnels for data transmission. It operates across various operating systems like Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
AWS IoT Core is a managed cloud service provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that offers a set of features for IoT device management, data processing, and communication between devices and cloud applications.
The increasing demand for efficient transportation solutions leads to constant urban evolution. In 2021, the smart parking sensor technology market recorded figures of 957,000 units. Smart parking enabling IoT connectivity addresses issues of congestion, pollution, and the frustration of finding parking spaces in busy cities. Let's go through how IoT devices and technology change the parking experience for both drivers and city planners.
Smart metering, empowered by IoT connectivity, helps to control energy, water, and gas consumption levels with real-time data transmission capabilities. According to the Transforma Insights IoT Forecast Database, global annual shipments in 2021 were comparable, with gas seeing 36.4 million and water 37.5 million. Smart electricity meters take 69% of all utility meters deployed today and their shipments were 145 million, 175 million, and 174 million respectively in 2021, 2022 and 2032. With the growing demand for smart metering devices, the need for uninterrupted IoT connectivity has also grown to solve the problems discussed below.
Internet breakout in IoT is the moment when data from IoT devices leaves their private network and enters the public internet. It's like a gateway that allows IoT devices to connect with cloud services, communicate, and access online resources. This enables seamless sharing of information and unleashes the full potential of IoT on a global scale.
According to Berg Insight's analysis, the worldwide deployment of operational remote tank monitoring (RTM) solutions amounted to approximately 6.2 million units in the year 2021. With an anticipated compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 29.9 percent, it is projected that the active deployment of these solutions will expand significantly, reaching about 23.0 million units worldwide by 2026. Tank management systems often lack real-time visibility, leading to inefficiencies and increased operational costs.
Google (Cloud) IoT Core, is a cloud-based and fully managed service which provides device registration, authentication, authorization within the Google Cloud resource hierarchy, and device metadata storage (in the cloud).
Symantec's IoT security solutions revolve around proactive, adaptive, and technically strong measures to improve the security within IoT environments via device protection mechanisms, data encryption, identity and access management, and anomaly detection algorithms.
With changing and evolving customer preferences, connected lighting industry also adopts, focusing on convenience, sustainability, and energy conservation. Businesses tend to utilize smart lighting solutions in the offices more often to boost employee productivity and enhance well-being. Industries like retail are optimizing sales and operational costs, while restaurants are combining ambiance with daylight utilization. For all these purposes specific IoT devices, hardware, and connectivity are required.
