If this year’s Consumer Electronics Show is anything to go by, 2017 will be the year of cellular IoT.
If there was one thing to take out from CES this year, it’s that, as the Internet of Things continues to expand, cellular IoT is gaining serious traction in addressing the demands of connecting the myriad of current and emerging devices.
From smart homes and cities, to connected cars and IoT wearables, the cellular IoT module requirements are essentially the same – low power consumption, cost efficiency and small size.
CAT-1 LTE chipsets have already started to address these core demands, and have gained considerable momentum in the process. But now, with the next generation of CAT-M1 networks already rolling out and CAT-NB1 networks following fast on their heels, we can expect to see a whole new variety of IoT applications, many of which will entail the secure and speedy processing and transmission of vast amounts of sensitive data.
Smart utility meters, IoT vehicle telematics, medical monitors and tracking devices; all these and more will demand the superior functionality and optimization – including enhanced security features – that only cellular IoT can provide without compromising on size, battery life and cost.
Every year, CES heralds the introduction of a great variety of technological innovations, some of which may not stand the test of time. However, of one thing we can be sure, the Internet of Things is only going to continue to expand and evolve, and cellular IoT will be a larger and larger part of the mix.