Thingstream: A Cloud Platform That Accelerates Large‑Scale IoT Deployments

The Thingstream platform delivers reliable IoT connectivity, robust security, an enterprise‑grade MQTT broker, visual programming, and seamless enterprise integration—all designed to simplify IoT deployments at scale.

Wireless communication and precise location data are essential for connecting every device in the IoT ecosystem. In an interview with EE Times Europe, Eric Heiser, senior vice president and head of Product Center Services at u‑blox, explained that the company’s current strategic focus is to make wireless and location services effortless, enable frictionless business operations, and embed efficiency as a core principle. Over time, clients have increasingly demanded formal warranties, professional support, and high availability for these services.

“We concentrate on delivering real value across the entire lifecycle,” Heiser said. “Our IoT service delivery platform—Thingstream—offers a comprehensive set of solutions for diverse customer use cases. Efficiency is the foundation that reduces total cost of ownership and maximizes ROI.”

Thingstream

Thingstream is a cloud‑based delivery and administration platform for enterprise IoT services. The platform bundles IoT connectivity, security, an enterprise‑grade MQTT broker, visual programming, and simple integration, and it works flawlessly with u‑blox and third‑party positioning and connectivity hardware.

Powered by auto‑scaling technology, the platform can handle billions of messages. Its intuitive interface provides a self‑serve environment that lets users manage device fleets, control billing, monitor events, and fully program functionality via APIs. In addition to a subscription model, u‑blox offers a flexible pay‑as‑you‑go (PAYG) option to suit varying customer needs.

Heiser noted that u‑blox’s acquisition of Thingstream in 2020 opened a new chapter in the services business, making it easier to locate and connect IoT devices to the cloud. The platform’s flexibility reduces design complexity and shortens time‑to‑market.

u‑blox solutions

Services Overview

“We deliver cutting‑edge wireless technologies that reliably locate and connect people and devices,” Heiser added. “Our services combine with products that enhance functionality, improve quality of service in challenging conditions, and solve complexity, cost, and availability challenges.”

u‑blox offers three primary service categories:

• IoT Communication‑as‑a‑Service: Global connectivity paired with a fixed‑price MQTT network that operates seamlessly in 190 countries.
• IoT Location‑as‑a‑Service: The industry standard for reliable, fast positioning and precise assistance data.
• IoT Security‑as‑a‑Service: A world‑class, scalable symmetric‑key management system that protects data and operations.

With the global surge in connected devices, many require location information to perform their tasks. Some need high‑precision positioning, while others only need a coarse estimate. GNSS users expect instantaneous data, which can be challenging in weak signal conditions. Battery‑powered IoT devices demand long lifespans—often months or years—while maintaining internet connectivity. Typically, location data is processed in the cloud, so reliable, global delivery is essential.

From a customer perspective, Heiser highlighted the following benefits:

• Faster time‑to‑market through seamless integration of technologies.
• Reduced execution risk by partnering with a single, capable provider.
• Higher ROI thanks to extended device lifecycles, lower data overhead, and smarter data‑format choices that cut energy use.

“Our Location Services aim to make positioning effortless—whether by delivering location data more efficiently or by accelerating position fixes,” Heiser said. “We offer four services within our IoT Location‑as‑a‑Service portfolio: AssistNow, PointPerfect, CellLocate, and CloudLocate.”

AssistNow delivers real‑time and predicted Assisted GNSS data, accelerating time‑to‑first‑fix, improving accuracy, and reducing power consumption. CellLocate uses mobile‑network‑based attributes to virtually eliminate “no‑position” scenarios. CloudLocate extends the life of battery‑constrained IoT applications by up to ten times compared to standard GNSS power‑saving methods. PointPerfect brings sub‑10 cm accuracy to the mass market, combining high precision with flexible service plans and an easy‑to‑use platform.

Efficiency as a Core Principle

MQTT is at the heart of this efficiency. Developed two decades ago, it has become the de facto standard for IoT because of its lightweight design, minimal network traffic, and low resource requirements. MQTT’s simplicity, efficient message distribution, omnidirectional capabilities, and scalability make it ideal for large‑scale deployments.

“With PointPerfect, u‑blox is the first to merge GNSS correction data with an enterprise‑grade IoT delivery platform,” Heiser explained. “This combination marks a pivotal shift in high‑precision GNSS solutions, enabling reliable, efficient support for mass‑market navigation applications using MQTT.”

SPARTN

Before SPARTN (Secure Position Augmentation for Real‑Time Navigation), there was no industry‑recognized standard for communicating GNSS correction data between providers and end‑users. Modern positioning systems demand low bandwidth, high accuracy, availability, reliability, and integrity for mission‑critical applications. SPARTN addresses these needs by building on legacy SSR formats while incorporating a state‑of‑the‑art communication protocol.

Heiser noted, “SPARTN is a low‑bandwidth open format for GNSS corrections, designed specifically for high‑precision mass‑market use. It solves two main challenges: privacy and scalability. Privacy is preserved because the service does not require knowledge of each device’s exact location; instead, a single broadcast stream delivers corrections to all endpoints. Scalability is achieved by distributing the same data to any number of devices.”

By making wireless and location services straightforward, u‑blox empowers frictionless business and places efficiency at the core of every deployment, giving users the best chance to locate and connect their devices from silicon to cloud.

>> This article was originally published on our sister site, EE Times Europe.