USSD: A Low‑Cost Catalyst for Global IoT Connectivity

By re‑introducing a legacy telecom protocol into modern IoT, companies are unlocking new, cost‑effective connectivity options worldwide.

Myriad Group, a Swiss‑origin mobile software firm founded in the 1990s, has released Pressto—a turnkey solution built on its ThingStream.io IoT platform.

The compact device couples a single‑press button, GSM modem, and a cloud‑based management portal into one package. Using the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) protocol, it transmits 182‑character payloads over the cellular network to the Pressto server. When the button is pressed, the payload contains GPS coordinates, a timestamp, and simple status flags that your application can immediately consume.

What Is USSD?

USSD is a real‑time, session‑based protocol native to GSM handsets. It lets mobile devices query and interact with carrier back‑ends for services such as balance checks, account top‑ups, and data bundles. In many emerging markets, USSD powers mobile money transfers and utility bill payments because it works on any feature phone and does not require an internet connection.

Neil Hamilton, VP Business Development at Myriad Group, explained how the protocol’s ubiquity translates to IoT:

“Myriad has built global roaming coverage with over 600 carriers. By embedding a ready‑to‑use SIM in the device, users can push data from almost anywhere on the planet.”

Use Cases That Thrive on USSD

USSD’s low overhead and near‑real‑time nature make it ideal for fast‑moving, remote scenarios where data bursts are short and infrequent.

• Logistics & Tracking: Cargo operators can obtain a “heartbeat” from containers in transit—even when they’re off‑grid. Hamilton notes that wholesale connectivity purchases enable GSM to compete with LPWAN services that many carriers overlook.
• Agriculture & Environment: Monitoring vast farmlands often relies on networks that are spotty near rural roads. USSD offers a simple, cost‑effective channel for transmitting sensor data when coverage is intermittent.

“The more we discuss USSD as a data conduit for industrial applications, the more use cases surface,” Hamilton says. He points out that sensor manufacturers can move from a distribution‑centric model to a fully connected product, delivering data directly to the end‑user’s application and opening new revenue streams at the edge.

Although the Pressto button began as a proof‑of‑concept, it has already attracted significant interest. Hamilton shares:

“We’re developing a workflow platform to help industrial customers manage their connected devices. By enhancing the platform side, we’ll add more value‑added services for companies that need to plug in their hardware.”

With USSD’s global reach and low cost, the Pressto solution demonstrates that legacy telecom protocols can be repurposed to accelerate affordable, reliable IoT adoption across diverse industries.