Cellular IoT Connectivity: What Technologies Will Lead in 2028?

The landscape of cellular IoT technologies is set to majorly evolve over the next four years. As the above infographic illustrates:

• 2G and 3G networks are expected to fade away, going from 8% market share in 2024 to less than 1% by 2028
• 4G LTE growth will slow significantly, but will nonetheless enter a duopoly with LPWA by 2028
• 5G will undergo significant expansion, however, will remain a minor player

4G LTE

Offering enhanced throughput, lower latency, and efficiency, 4G LTE is anticipated to remain a significant player in the cellular IoT space. With a projected increase in devices from 2.1 billion to 3.1 billion by 2028, 4G LTE networks are crucial for various applications such as EV charging stations, CCTV, and health devices.

5G

The emergence of 5G networks, both NSA and SA, is set to revolutionize the IoT landscape with higher throughput and lower latency. Predicted to grow from 35.5 million to 362.4 million devices by 2028, 5G networks are essential for industries like manufacturing and mining.

LPWA

LPWA networks like NB-IoT and LTE-M offer low-power, wide-area connectivity, driving IoT growth. While NB-IoT provides extensive coverage and power-saving features, it faces competition from unlicensed alternatives like SigFox. LTE-M, on the other hand, supports more complex IoT devices with lower latency and OTA updates.

Source: Global Cellular IoT Market 2024-2028

Download the Whitepaper: How Operators Can Maximise Cellular IoT Revenue in 2024

Read the Blog: The Importance of Satellite Networks in IoT