The global number of 5G IoT connections is set to exceed 100 million by 2026.
A study by Juniper Research finds the number of connections will reach 116 million by 2026; increasing from 17 million in 2023.
The incredible 1,100 percent growth is set to be driven by smart city services and healthcare.
Olivia Williams, one of the researchers, commented:
“5G will enable more efficient and dynamic healthcare provision that was not feasible with 4G or Wi-Fi.
However, healthcare providers must first implement 5G in areas which provide a strong return on investment; most notably connected emergency services.”
The pandemic exposed healthcare inefficiencies that can be improved using IoT technologies. 5G IoT connections will be particularly useful for telemedicine, connected ambulances and emergency services, and real-time remote monitoring.
For smart cities, Juniper Research forecasts there will be over 60 million global 5G smart city connections.
Transportation network monitoring, including road and rail networks, will be a key use case that requires the high-bandwidth cellular connectivity that 5G offers.
The report urges city-planning authorities to leverage 5G as high-bandwidth gateways.
A full copy of the report can be found here (paywall)
(Photo by Federico Beccari on Unsplash)
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