Giesecke+Devrient acquires global IoT specialist Pod to enlarge connectivity business portfolio
- Written by Andrea Alton
Giesecke+Devrient (G+D), a global security technology group headquartered in Munich, has acquired Pod Group, an Enterprise Network Operator (ENO) specializing in scalable Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity solutions. The UK-based firm with offices in Seville/Spain and other locations across the globe has access to 600+ networks in 185 countries. The acquisition is another step in the strategic development of G+D towards a solution provider in the IoT business. It complements G+D´s offering of trusted connectivity enablement for IoT, with tailored connectivity management services. The purchase price was not disclosed.
With billions of IoT devices generating data, data authenticity, privacy, and security are fundamental to make IoT successful and beneficial for its users. Pod and their products complement the G+D eSIM portfolio, and provide the ability to connect, manage, bill and secure devices via a seamless and cost-effective approach. The combined portfolio will significantly reduce barriers to IoT adoption and make it easier for buyers to fulfill their requirements with a single partner.
Ralf Wintergerst, Group CEO of Giesecke+Devrient, comments on the acquisition: "Combining Pod with G+D strengthens our portfolio with proven connectivity management and proven performance in supporting hundreds of millions of mobile IoT devices worldwide, and with the ability to deliver secure solutions that scale and which enterprises can afford. The next steps are to bring our two product portfolios closer together to create even more efficiency and value for our customers, and address the broader IoT market."
Pod founder Charles Towers-Clark stresses: "Pod Group has grown organically since its inception in 1999 thanks to the quality and commitment of my colleagues and the loyalty that our customers have shown us. I strongly believe that Pod Group's success is due to an emphasis on initiative and responsibility as part of the 'WEIRD' culture, which we implemented over the past years. As a family company with long-term vision and a caring attitude to their staff, G+D is the perfect home for the next phase of Pod Group's growth. This acquisition is an amazing strategic fit for both parties. So I look forward to seeing Pod Group together with G+D become the leading international provider of data connectivity for the IoT sector."
G+D continues to invest at a high level in the development of new digital business fields and the expansion of its business portfolio. In 2020, the technology group acquired stakes in the Swiss software company Netcetera and the crypto-asset company Metaco.
"Over the past years we consistently pursued our strategic goals and invested heavily in our digital portfolio. In particular, we were able to successfully further expand the future fields of digital payment and encryption technology. And now, with the acquisition of Pod, we strengthen our portfolio in the field of IoT," Wintergerst emphasizes the strategic relevance of the Pod deal.
