Improving competitiveness through IoE

MANILA, Philippines -The Internet has evolved from a message medium to a network grid connecting numerous computers and people throughout the world. Millions of people connect to the Internet for entertainment, interaction, work and study. It has been such an integral part of the modern man’s life that the United Nations declared the Internet as a fundamental human right. At Cisco, we believe that education and the Internet are the great equalizers of the next century.

The medium is evolving further into “Internet of Everything (IoE)” where everything from data, processes, things and people are connected. Imagine a future where your smart watch (which is synced to your medical history at the hospital) immediately warns you that the coffee you are about to drink from a smart-cup has too much sugar.

Cisco is at the forefront of this revolution. In Songdo, Korea, Cisco is pioneering an Internet of Everything where the metropolis is secured, maintained, and run on a network platform. Imagine CCTV cameras around the city that communicate with each other to track criminals as they move away from the crime scene.

Roads communicate the specific number of vehicles on it with traffic lights so that they can control traffic flow. Imagine medical devices in ambulances communicating vital signs and health information of injured patients with doctors in the hospital in real time. The possibilities are endless. With communications optimized, delivered swiftly and securely, and spread across all aspects of life, the Internet of Everything makes for an efficient, secure, and sustainable city.

Such efficient, secure, and transparent cities are what we envision for the Philippines. As we have partnered with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), we seek to make for a greener technologically interconnected Clark City.

The Internet of Everything revolution does not stop at booming cities. This evolution will uplift the very lives of the people it supports. Joining the Philippine Internet of Everything Consortium, it is my desire to increase the competitiveness of the Philippines through the use of technologies – changing the way we work, live, play and learn.

Through developing system intelligence and networking, the consortium desires to empower local businesses, specifically, small to medium enterprises (SMEs). SMEs provide 61 percent of the country’s workforce. By further developing SMEs, we can offer better and more jobs to more Filipinos. Through the consortium, our goal is to make the Internet of Everything work for SMEs.

As proven through the communication of everyday household and office objects, and city-wide systems, the Internet of Everything can touch upon the very machines and processes that drive SMEs. Imagine rice stalks, detecting they have been compromised by pests, communicate with the farmer so he understands the number of crops impacted as well as the machine to manage the level of pesticides – thus making it cost-effective for the farm owner and environmentally friendly for the community.

At Cisco, we specifically contribute our knowledge, experience, and expertise for the consortium’s goal for SMEs. Since 1998, our Cisco Networking Academy has continuously bridged knowledge gaps through Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills development initiatives. The Cisco NetAcad program has partnered with more than 150 schools nationwide and has produced around 300,000 graduates in the Philippines since its inception.

Through the Cisco NetAcad program, we train the future highly skilled workforce in the Philippines in ICT skills with certifications in Cisco Certified Networking Administrator (CCNA), the CCNA Security, and the IT Essentials programs.

We have also just announced that Cisco will address the growing demand for skills in Internet of Everything with the first global ‘Introduction to IoE’ curriculum which will empower the next generation of innovators to embrace the IoE’s full possibilities.

Furthermore, Cisco approaches Philippine societal SME growth holistically. We do not only provide knowledge and expertise. We also supply essential equipment for the evolution of the Internet.

The foundation for realizing the Internet of Everything is a robust network. We work with the telecommunications providers around the world and in the Philippines to ensure they have carrier-grade routers and switches, a converged data center infrastructure, and the best in class security solutions.

In collaboration with the public and private sectors, we are building a better future for the Philippines. According to the World Bank, every 10 percent increase in the broadband penetration of a country translates to a 1.4 percent growth in GDP. I’m excited by the opportunities to increase the competitiveness of the Philippines as we move towards an Asean Economic Community model in 2015.

The evolution of the Internet of Everything is now taking hold in the Philippines. Through our innovation, leadership, and social service, we, at Cisco, remain committed to the fulfillment of this future state of connectivity. Let us all push forward for smarter cities, for profitable businesses and sustainable growth, and for a better future, with the Internet of Everything.