Airtel shakes hand with Matter Motor EV- loT platform to be embedded in the Aera Bikes

Airtel will collaborate with tech startup Matter Motor Works to install e-sims in over 300,000 Aera electric bikes as part of Airtel’s IoT solution. Matter will ship these bikes in the next three years, making it the first deal of its kind for India’s second-largest carrier.

The partnership will enable 60,000 Matter bikes with Airtel e-sims in the first phase and the shipping will start from September-October. Pre-booking for the bikes began from 17 May.

Airtel’s IoT platform, “Airtel IoT Hub” will allow real-time tracking of these vehicles, monitoring performance with advanced analytics and ensuring high reliability and security. E-sims will help customers to access their vehicle data in real-time and improve their riding experience.

The e-sims will be integrated and embedded with the bike’s interface. Matter and Airtel have signed a long-term agreement based on a cost model linked to the number of vehicles sold. “We can’t disclose the value of the contract. Under this agreement, Matter will offer connected vehicle technology to its customers, enabling them to access their vehicle data in real-time,” Harish Laddha, CEO –emerging business, Airtel said.

He added that the customer’s consent will be taken during vehicle sales, after which SIM activation will happen. Moreover, the collected data will be encrypted and securely stored to protect customer privacy and prevent unauthorized access, he added.

Arun Pratap Singh, co-founder and Group COO told Mint that the data collected will provide vehicle parameters and performance data to Matter’s data server. This data will enhance vehicle communication, facilitate the improved transmission of information to deliver personalized experiences, and provide consumers with a variety of features, such as geofencing, vehicle health status, riding status, tracking information, etc.

Ladhha said Airtel is working with various companies in the industry, including electric vehicles, automotive, utilities, logistics and fintech, to boost its IoT portfolio.

He added that India had ambitious goals to reduce its carbon footprint and therefore green mobility will play a vital role in helping India achieve its net zero goals. “We look forward to this partnership, to setting new benchmarks and demonstrating how technology can enable efficient services and solutions for companies that embrace technology," he said.