In recent years, the tech world has been all abuzz about the Internet of Things. It’s been hailed as a revolutionary step forward in technology and communications. It’s been promised to completely transform everything from domestic life to business to healthcare. It’s been called the technology of the future. However, in order for the IoT to reach these lofty heights, it will require a whole new approach to telecommunications and the infrastructure that supports it. Is the telecom industry ready to step up and meet the challenges of this connected future?
Turn up the Volume
With a stunning 20 to 50 billion devices projected to be connected by the end of the decade, and with mobile data traffic already skyrocketing in recent years, one of the primary challenges the telecoms industry will face is the issue of volume. The industry will be tasked with building out far more robust network infrastructure capable of handling the demands of an increasingly digital, interconnected world. When virtually any everyday object is capable of generating and transmitting data, and much of that data needs to be collected, analyzed and acted upon, a move toward distributed, cloud-based networking will likely be necessary. This makes agile and responsive infrastructure all the more essential in order to keep pace with both consumer and commercial needs.
The industry will also need to grapple with the shifting demands that come with these networks. Many of these smart objects and sensors require little power and send only small amounts of data in short bursts, but because they may be deployed over broad areas, often indoors, underground or in other problematic locations, they require reliable long-range coverage to function effectively. One solution, defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), is Narrowband IoT, also known as LTE Cat NB1. This Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) technology provides superior range and coverage to support a broad web of sensors and devices, and since it’s built on existing 4G architecture, it represents an affordable and easily implemented solution for telecommunications providers.
The Importance of Communication
One of the foundational principles of the Internet of Things is the ability of a wide range of devices to communicate with one another, but as the number of connected devices continues to explode in coming years, the fractured nature of the market will pose a significant hurdle. Smart devices currently employ a host of different connectivity standards, in a variety of disparate applications subject to all manner of compliance issues, to connect and communicate with each other and with the wider digital world. This tangled web of standards, regulations and connectivity needs poses a major challenge, but it’s one that telecommunications companies are uniquely suited to handle. Telcos have the expertise and connections to navigate complex regulatory environments, meet challenging connectivity demands and unify what promises to be an explosively growing emerging industry.
The IoT may also offer solutions of its own, particularly when it comes to improving service and reliability across networks. Telecommunications providers can leverage the power of interconnected sensors to monitor usage patterns and consumer behaviors, gleaning the insights needed to ensure uninterrupted service and build new infrastructure that is better able to meet demand. These networks may also power sophisticated predictive maintenance systems, allowing telecom companies to maintain their expanding infrastructure with greater speed and efficiency than ever before – a necessary development given the need for rapid growth and ever-greater reliability.
Adapting to Industry
One of the most powerful applications of smart networks is in the industrial space, where vast networks of sensors and connected devices have already begun to help businesses and manufacturers track supply chains in detail, monitor equipment and networks for inefficiencies and potential failures, automate key operations and more. These essential, high-precision applications come with unique challenges, including the need for ultra-low latency, exceptional reliability and robust data rates.
To this end, the eventual evolution and adoption of 5G wireless standards will be key. Just as previous generations revolutionized consumer and commercial connectivity, 5G must be ready to revolutionize industry. Though the standard remains a work in progress, a few key aspects have begun to take shape. Future 5G networks will primarily employ very high frequencies to handle extraordinary volumes of data with much lower latency and far greater flexibility than existing standards can support. These networks may also utilize the unlicensed frequencies used by existing Wi-Fi networks, potentially raising thorny issues of interference.
The Internet of Things is undoubtedly the technology of the future. It has already begun to disrupt both the home and commercial spaces, and it will soon become a disruptive force in the telecommunications industry as well. Its continued growth poses great challenges for the industry, but it also presents unique opportunities for providers who are able to adapt and provide the infrastructure and services needed to maximize its potential.
