The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of connected intelligent devices that communicate over the Internet and change our lives and work. It’s a generic term, and you can buy a smart umbrella to connect everything. The IoT landscape has expanded exponentially over the past decade, and a staggering 20 billion connected devices are expected to be deployed by 2020.
The IoT will continue to grow in devices and the number of uses, but organizations face the security and interoperability challenges that have plagued technology since its inception. The future of IoT requires organizations to focus on the teams and processes needed for IoT applications, products and tracking equipment.
As a result of our dependence on connectivity solutions, our networks have had to evolve to become more resilient and mature. The increase in the number of IoT devices (Internet of Things) means we can expect real-time data analysis, remote monitoring and machine software updates. The advanced technology available to manufacturers, companies and system integrators gives them control over their IoT connectivity as a service .
With today’s advanced technologies, companies, manufacturers, and system integrators have everything at hand, giving them more control over their IoT connectivity than ever before. The introduction of ESIMs, private mobile communications, less reliance on carriers and innovative connectivity services providers have allowed companies to own and manage their IoT networks and to provide managed services such as network services and NAAS access from a central platform. As companies gain more control of their IoT connectivity through SIM cards, and private networks, companies will benefit from the full potential of IoT applications in the coming years.
New IoT uses in different environments and geographies will create a growing range of network options in the US, including satellite, mobile, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Z-Wave and Citizen Broadband Radio Services (CBRs). The IoT 2021 will bring significant momentum into these new IoT applications, such as recording patient health data from wearables and healthcare devices, improving the employee experience in smart offices and extending the use and remote monitoring of connected machines. As businesses can better control IoT connectivity from a SIM card to a fully private network, private companies will benefit in the coming years from the full value of IoT applications.
The potential applications of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and devices encompass a wide range of industries and IoT technologies accelerate the growth of connected industrial technologies such as autonomous vehicles and smart cities. Manufacturers are already integrating IoT into smart homes devices, cars, cities and factories, and experts predict that its use will continue to increase. The future of IoT connectivity demands flexible solutions that address a wide range of IoT applications, use cases and device types.
In manufacturing, where the Internet of Things (IoT) enables smart factories, many different options are available but a new challenge is the lack of interoperability between connectivity platforms. Stakeholders are betting that their IoT devices, applications and solutions will become obsolete when a connectivity option becomes dominant. There is a growing opportunity for investors to control their IoT connectivity more easily and to shift the balance between experience and power.
As more and more IoT devices enter manufacturing facilities, 5G networks will complement existing solutions. Over time, more 5G IoT devices will connect to these networks than Wi-Fi routers. New cars will analyze your data and connect to other devices on the Internet of Things, including other high-tech four-wheeled vehicles.
Faster networks also mean that the data collected by your smart devices can be collected, analyzed and managed to a greater extent. The development of driverless cars and connected vehicles on the road will benefit from data in motion.
IoT devices do not only include computers, laptops and smartphones, but also objects equipped with chips that collect and communicate data over the network. Farms have wireless Internet-of-Things networks of connected smart devices that communicate via the Internet seamlessly, sensors that transmit information about soil moisture and nutrients to agricultural experts throughout the country. Some of these IoT alarms are equipped with batteries that last for years and provide long-term protection for homeowners.
Solving two key challenges – connectivity and scalability – will be critical to the long-term growth of IoT networks and related technologies. Security and reliable connectivity and data transmission, which constitute 5-10% of the value of IoT solutions, are crucial to the IoT ecosystem. In addition to the challenges of connectivity and scalability, network providers and device vendors must develop robust data security models for IoT devices to address threats when devices and networks are compromised on the move.
When factories and plants are full of connected things, including machines, conveyor belts and robotics, Internet of Things (IoT) devices and solutions will not work and busy factor bottoms will be harder to navigate and impossible to fix. To deliver on the full promise of the IoT, ensuring trust between connected devices and end-user security should be one of the first considerations for IoT deployment. If end users cannot trust the IoT networks they use and the devices that share and manage their data, the entire ecosystem will collapse.
Commercial disputes between mobile network operators and roaming arrangements may arise at short notice resulting in termination of connectivity agreement between parties and the loss of connectivity for enterprise IoT devices. If an IoT device is connected for more than 90 days to a network outside its home country it is considered roaming and cannot connect, causing the network to be disconnected.