Latin America. Over the past few years the number of new technologies that have hit the market is impressive. From self-driving cars to 3D printing, technological innovation seems to have no end. Some of these technologies promise to make the world a better place, even without providing any real business case or justification for their use; while others promise that they will continue in trend for another three or five years. However, for all these devices to truly do their job, they must be connected to a network that supports your requirements.
For Vince Sumrall, Technical Manager, Florida/Alabama Region at CommScope, the Internet of Things (IoT) and its devices are part of these new technologies. Only in Gartner's Hype Cycle For Emerging Technologies 2015 is it almost placed in the first place as the most anticipated technology.
"The Internet of Things (IoT) is growing exponentially. Industry experts predict that a staggering number of IoT devices will be on the network by 2020, with projections ranging from 21 trillion devices, to 50 trillion, and even 200 trillion*."
But even more impressive than the large number of devices connected to the IoT, are the predictions about the economic impact that it can bring. According to McKinsey's The Internet of Things: Mapping the value beyond the hype report, it is estimated that by 2025, IoT devices will add between $4 trillion and $11 trillion to the global economy each year.
With this future perspective, the challenge is to adapt the network infrastructures to adjust to the new demands. Getting the network ready to support the increased bandwidth, as well as the increasing speed demands that this technology requires, is of paramount importance to operators.
One of the goals of IoT is to get users to save time in their day-to-day processes and use technology efficiently to achieve this, which will only be possible if operators achieve efficient network convergence. However, this depends not only on the IoT devices themselves, but largely on the ability of operators to ensure network infrastructures that allow them to operate quickly and efficiently.
"For these devices to truly add value, they must be able to be connected to the network continuously, without interruptions. This connectivity will take many forms, including wired Ethernet, WiFi, LTE, Bluetooth, and more. Enabling these technologies within buildings requires proper planning and design, while adhering to relevant industry standards," concluded Vince Sumrall, Technical Manager, Florida/Alabama Region at CommScope.
*IDC, Intel, United Nations.
