Global cellular IoT connections reached 4.7 billion in 2025, with China Mobile leading at 17% revenue share and Quectel as top module vendor.
The slowdown is attributed to reduced growth in China, while NB-IoT, LTE-Cat 1 bis, and 4G remain the leading technologies by shipment volume.
Despite slower growth, the market is projected to reach 9.2 billion connections by 2030, with future value shifting toward advanced modules, chipsets, and edge computing capabilities amid evolving regulations and geopolitical tensions.
With China's IoT engine sputtering, which nation will emerge as the next global leader in connected device deployment?
Can premium 5G RedCap services generate enough revenue to justify the massive cost of network upgrades for telecom operators?
Is LTE Cat 1 bis a long-term solution for IoT connectivity or just a temporary bridge after 2G/3G shutdowns?
Qualcomm dominates the IoT chipset market. Will geopolitical pressures and RISC-V finally create a powerful new competitor?
As IoT booms to 9 billion connections, what is the industry's plan to manage the coming wave of electronic waste?
With the EU's Cyber Resilience Act in effect, will soaring security costs kill innovation in low-cost IoT devices?