iLOQ is a provider of smart locking and secure access to buildings. Originally from Finland, iLOQ now has offices in nine countries around the world and is adding more all the time. iLOQ’s innovation centres on self-powered digital locking and mobile access management solutions. iLOQ focuses on improving operational efficiency by enabling enhanced access control and site monitoring while reducing total cost of ownership. TowerXchange spoke with Joaquim Serrahima, their Director of Global Key Accounts TELECOM to discuss future access management innovations.
TowerXchange: Please introduce your company “ where do you fit in the telecoms infrastructure ecosystem?
Joaquim Serrahima, Director Global Key Accounts TELECOM, iLOQ Spain: iLOQ provides smart locking and secure access to buildings and spaces we use daily and caters to the needs of industry and the utility sector with mobile and digital solutions for efficient access sharing and management. iLOQ S50 allows telecoms providers to focus on their core business “ managing and maintaining sites, not providing access to them.
TowerXchange: Why has it become important to develop new types of access management systems?
Joaquim Serrahima, Director Global Key Accounts TELECOM, iLOQ Spain: Companies are keen to develop new methods of access management in a bid to move away from the security risks and administrational challenges of traditional mechanical locking systems. It’s becoming more and more important to have increased awareness of the access points in our premises. To detect and prevent misuse and keep security levels high, we need to know facts like who has entered, who has left, at what times and what areas they accessed.
TowerXchange: What innovations are coming to the fore?
Joaquim Serrahima, Director Global Key Accounts TELECOM, iLOQ Spain: Fingerprint biometrics has been gaining popularity. However, the recent global health pandemic has forced companies using fingerprint biometrics to take extra precautionary methods to protect our health.
Facial biometrics is also a technology that is coming to the fore. The most common use today is when we unlock our cell phones using the device’s internal camera. However, the use of facial biometrics as a form of access management has been questioned in the media due to possible facial recognition errors.
TowerXchange: What input has iLOQ had on developing new technologies?
Joaquim Serrahima, Director Global Key Accounts TELECOM, iLOQ Spain: Sometimes the simplest solution “ using a lock and key “ is the most effective. However, iLOQ has taken the simple lock and key and filled them with ground-breaking technology. We have even gone a step further and turned smartphones into keys.
For nearly two decades, iLOQ has been at the forefront of optimising access management. Our digital locking and mobile access sharing innovations are easy to install, simple to use and eliminate the need for wiring and batteries. Designed to maximise security, minimise administration time and impact on the environment, they also drive down lifecycle costs and boost the value of properties.
TowerXchange: Which iLOQ innovations are particularly relevant for the telecoms market?
Joaquim Serrahima, Director Global Key Accounts TELECOM, iLOQ Spain: In 2016, iLOQ developed the first lock cylinder to harvest energy for unlocking from an NFC-enabled smartphone. The iLOQ S50 eliminates all the costs related to purchasing batteries and the time, cost and environmental impact of maintaining the locking systems. The keyless solution also eliminates the security risks associated with physical keys and again reduces the environmental impact of travelling between sites and admin offices to collect and return keys.
Maximising site security, simplifying admin, slashing lifecycle costs and minimising environmental impact “ what’s not to like? And it’s why our solution is being deployed by major infrastructure operators around the world.
