Rising IoT Adoption & SMART DEVICES
The number of IoT devices are increasing with almost 15.2 to 16.6 billion networked IoT devices globally. Communication modules are essential building blocks in IoT devices, providing connectivity and data exchange between edge devices, cloud platforms, and other networked systems.
In 2023, 3/4th of Wi-Fi devices shipped globally were Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E-based, which provide quicker and more stable wireless connectivity compared to its predecessor, Wi-Fi 5. These modules provide increased data rates, reduced latency, and improved power efficiency, making them suitable for IoT applications in smart homes, healthcare, and industrial automation.The use of these technologies has streamlined communication between IoT devices, resulting in enhanced user experiences and overall performance. Wi-Fi technology is dominating IoT connectivity in industries like smart homes, buildings, and healthcare. Wi-Fi 7, the newest version of Wi-Fi technology, is being adopted into different devices such as smartphones, routers, and laptops. Industry players such as Qualcomm and Broadcom have launched Wi-Fi 7 chipsets, and consumer products like the TP-Link Archer BE900 router are already on the market. The introduction of Multi-Link Operation (MLO) allows IoT devices to connect across multiple frequency bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz) simultaneously. Wi-Fi 7 delivers data rates up to 46 Gbps, which is four times faster than Wi-Fi 6.
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), also known as Bluetooth Smart, has been continuously developed to allow IoT devices to maintain reliable connectivity while consuming limited power. As a result, BLE is now the preferred option for battery-powered IoT devices such as smart home sensors and asset tracking devices. Furthermore, 2024 marked the introduction of 5G RedCap technology. Unlike timecritical applications demanding stringent latency, RedCap-enabled IoT devices prioritize affordability and reduced complexity. With download speeds up to 150 Mbps, upload speeds of 50 Mbps, and latency under 100 ms, RedCap is propelling growth in consumer, enterprise, and industrial IoT devices.
MOST COMMON CASES OF ADOPTION SEEN ACROSS SECTORS:
Sector
Applications
Smart Homes & Consumer IoT
- Smart assistants (Alexa, Google)
- Smart cameras & security
- Home automation (sensors, lights, thermostats)
- Gaming & AR/VR
-Others
Industrial IoT & Smart Factories
- Autonomous robots & AGVs
- Machine-to-machine communication
- Predictive maintenance
- AI-driven quality control
-Others
Smart Cities & Public Infrastructure
- Traffic management
- AI-driven surveillance
- Smart streetlights & energy grids
-Others
Enterprise IoT & Smart Buildings
- IoT-based HVAC & energy management
- Biometric security systems
-Others
AR/VR & Metaverse
- Metaverse applications
- AI-enhanced training simulations
-Others
Other Applications
Automotive & Transportation
Retail & Logistics
Healthcare etc.
Deployment of 5G & Wi-Fi 7 for High-Speed Connectivity
The adoption of Wi-Fi 7 and 5G is transforming wireless connectivity, heavily driving the wireless modules market growth. The two technologies offer ultra-low latency, ultra-fast data speeds, and higher device capacity, and they are necessary in industrial automation, smart cities, healthcare, and automotive applications. With the advent of 5G RedCap (Reduced Capability) in 2024, low-cost, energy-saving IoT solutions are increasingly becoming popular in industrial and enterprise settings. Also, Wi-Fi 7, with rates of up to 46 Gbps and better multi-device effectiveness, is gradually becoming the solution of choice for high-performance wireless networks in factories, hospitals, and retail spaces. Industry giants such as Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Broadcom are already working on 5G and Wi-Fi 7-capable wireless modules, with Qualcomm's FastConnect 7800 and Broadcom's Wi-Fi 7 chipset being significant advancements in the industry. Additionally, telecommunication behemoths such as Ericsson, Nokia, and Huawei are building 5G infrastructure, speeding up the rollout of wireless modules for industrial automation, remote monitoring, and real-time data analysis.
Governments globally are facilitating this shift with regulation efforts and investments in infrastructure. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and European Union (EU) spectrum policy have provided extra spectrum bands to support 5G and Wi-Fi 7 deployments. China, South Korea, and Germany have deployed private 5G networks for industry, augmenting smart factory processes through wireless IoT connectivity. Smart city projects like India's Digital India initiative and the EU Smart Cities Marketplace are also fueling demand for Wi-Fi 7-based urban infrastructure solutions like intelligent traffic systems, energy networks, and surveillance. The worldwide drive for Industry 4.0, autonomous mobility, and remote healthcare solutions is only driving the uptake of wireless modules powered by 5G and Wi-Fi 7, thus positioning them as a vital enabler of the next-generation digital economy.
Smart Manufacturing Leaders: Foxconn, BMW, Nokia, Ericsson deploying 5G for automation & real-time analytics.
Enterprise & Smart City Adoption: Cisco, Huawei, Verizon, AT&T expanding Wi-Fi 7 & 5G private networks.
Consumer & Industrial IoT: Qualcomm, MediaTek, Broadcom, Samsung leading Wi-Fi 7 chipsets & IoT modules.
Connected Vehicles & AI Integration: Tesla, Amazon AWS leveraging 5G for automotive & edge computing.
Expansion of Smart Cities & Infrastructure Projects
As cities continue to grow, numerous initiatives for Smart Cities are being conducted. The concept of Smart City encompasses several concepts being governance, economy, management, infrastructure, technology and people. This means that a Smart City can have different communication needs. Wireless technologies such as WiFi, ZigBee, Bluetooth, WiMax, 4G or LTE (Long Term Evolution) have presented themselves as solutions to the communication needs of Smart City initiatives. Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) are being employed all over the world as a low-cost and low-energy consuming method to provide a communication mechanism. A very common example from the year 2019 is of the Transport for London which use wi-fi data to understand passenger flows collecting depersonalized wi-fi data from passengers' mobile devices to obtain a better understanding of how people travel around the London Underground network. Many smart cities offer free public Wi-Fi in parks, transit stations, and government buildings to ensure digital inclusion. For instance, LinkNYC is a first-of-its-kind communications network that has replaced pay phones across the five boroughs. Each LinkNYC structure provides super-fast, free public Wi-Fi, phone calls, device charging, and a tablet for access to city services, maps, and directions.
Another important application is seen in Wi-Fi-enabled security cameras which provide real-time video feeds for law enforcement and city monitoring. “City sensors project” are becoming lot common due to wireless technologies.
