With World IoT Day (April 9, 2026) approaching, the sector is marking an important milestone in the growth of connected technologies.
According to the GSMA, the number of active NB-IoT and LTE-M connections worldwide surpassed one billion at the end of last year, reflecting more than a decade of collaboration between mobile operators, device manufacturers and standards bodies to build interoperable networks capable of supporting large-scale machine communications. As a result, enterprises now have far greater confidence to deploy connected devices at scale across sectors such as utilities, transport and smart infrastructure.
However, as deployments move beyond the first billion connections, Cyril Deschanel, group MD Europe & UK at IoT connectivity provider Wireless Logic, explains why the conversation is shifting from simply connecting devices to managing them across their full operational lifecycle:
“Low-power cellular technologies have moved firmly into the mainstream of global infrastructure. We’re now seeing large-scale deployments across utilities, smart metering, logistics, agriculture and smart cities, where devices are expected to operate reliably for ten or fifteen years with minimal human intervention. However, connecting devices is only the starting point. The real challenge is ensuring that connectivity remains resilient, secure and adaptable over the entire lifecycle of an IoT deployment. Today, many devices are installed in remote or hard-to-reach locations and expected to operate for a decade or more, which means decisions made on day one can shape operational costs, security and reliability for years to come.”
“At the same time, enterprises are navigating an increasingly complex global connectivity environment. Regulations around data sovereignty, restrictions on permanent roaming, cyber-security and evolving telecom policies demand greater flexibility in how devices connect across different regions. Standards like SGP.32 are becoming increasingly important as enablers of regulatory compliance in global IoT deployments. By allowing remote provisioning and switching of connectivity profiles, enterprises can localise devices onto in-country operator networks where required, helping address restrictions on permanent roaming and evolving telecom policies. However, while SGP.32 plays a critical role at the connectivity layer, achieving true data sovereignty also depends on broader architectural decisions, including local traffic breakout, in-country data processing and control over core network infrastructure.”
“As the industry moves toward the next billion connected devices, we must start considering the ability to manage connectivity intelligently across the full lifecycle of an IoT deployment. This will become just as important as the networks themselves.”
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