This week, the GSMA published a new report calling for the number of global machine-to-machine (M2M) connections to reach a quarter of a billion this year.
The latest projection, the GSMA says, underscores that M2M has become a “major growth area for mobile operators.”
The study finds that global M2M connections reached 195 million in 2013, growing at nearly 40 per cent per year (38 per cent CAGR) between 2010 and 2013.
M2M accounted for 2.8 percent of all global mobile connections at the end of 2013, double the 1.4 per cent share recorded in 2010.
“We are now living in a world where every device, machine or appliance can be wirelessly connected to the internet, providing a wealth of real-time information that can transform how people live and work. For mobile operators, connecting ‘machines’ to their networks is now a major focus area,” says Hyunmi Yang, Chief Strategy Officer at GSMA.
“But it is not just about adding new types of connections: there is an opportunity for mobile operators to add value far beyond connectivity by developing M2M capabilities that reduce fragmentation and stimulate new services,” Yang adds. “For example, defining cross-vertical solutions in network APIs, device management, security and big data are areas where operators can help drive the M2M market forwards.”
To check out the new report from the GSMA, click here.
