The potential of the Internet of Things (IoT) is huge, with connected devices around the world holding the promise of a better, greener and safer future. This makes events like IoT Tech Expo Europe even more important. On the 26th and 27th of September 2023, enterprise leaders from around the world will come together to explore the latest innovations, implementations and strategies – helping them to realise the benefits of IoT and drive their business forward.
So, as 5,000 attendees gather in Amsterdam, what themes should they be looking out for? GSMA’s Global Trends Report provides some insight into the latest developments in IoT that we’ll be watching closely at this year’s event…..
1) IoT deployments driving the digital transformation agenda: IoT deployments are part of a wider digital transformation agenda for nearly two thirds (63%) of enterprises, according to the GSMA, with revenue generation and cost savings emerging as equally important priorities. This means that in 2023 we can expect to see an incredible two billion new IoT connections globally, with 1.4 billion of those coming from enterprise use cases. Indeed, in 2024 enterprise will surpass consumer in terms of connections.
2) The evolution of 5G: The vision of a connected world will only become a reality following a successful rollout of 5G-Advanced. IoT devices are putting pressure on current networks, impacting speed and reliability, and driving operators to evolve their strategies. The GSMA’s research found that low-cost IoT is one of the top priorities for 5G-Advanced, with nearly a quarter (24%) of operators saying this was the most important feature to support their network transformation priorities. This reflects a continued push towards B2B services.
3) Growth in the cellular IoT space: While cellular networks currently serve 15% of total IoT connections, the explosion of the IoT market provides significant room for growth in the cellular IoT space. In fact, according to the GSMA’s research, the number of licensed cellular IoT connections will reach 5.3 billion globally by 2030, up from 2.6 billion in 2022. Within the cellular IoT space, cellular M2M will continue to support IoT devices that require mobility (with 5G enabling lower latencies and higher data transfer speeds for URLLC), while licensed LPWA will support devices previously served by legacy cellular networks (2G/3G).
4) eSIM technology looking to scale: eSIM technology has long been recognised as a significant enabler of IoT deployments across various industries. The potential for growth is significant, with the GSMA research revealing that 83% of enterprises consider eSIM an important technology to achieve success in their IoT deployments, with best-in-class security and scalability the top eSIM benefits. This presents an opportunity for operators and other providers of eSIM and IoT solutions to meet demand from enterprises. In 2023, the focus will be on advancing eSIM adoption beyond automotive, while demonstrating how eSIM supports the green imperative.
5) Synergies between IoT and private wireless networks: Enterprises that want private wireless networks also want IoT. Remarkably, around 70% of operators claim that enterprise customers who buy private wireless (4G/5G) also request IoT services occasionally or very frequently, indicating an important synergy between the two services. It is therefore likely that growth in private wireless networks will drive renewed interest and further growth in enterprise IoT.
With innovation in this field accelerating at pace, this year’s event is a good opportunity for enterprise leaders to stay up to date with the latest trends and identify new growth opportunities. The sharing of knowledge and information will ultimately help to pave the way for more robust digital transformation strategies.
Find us at IoT Tech Expo 2023 at stand 120:
https://www.iottechexpo.com/europe/partners/thales-dis-france-sas/
