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4 connectivity trends for 2025

Global Trends
5 Mins.

As we move into 2025, Spotlight looks back at the major connectivity trends of the past year – and the impact they will have over the next 12 months.

Infographic on 4 key connectivity trends for 2025: global coverage, IoT for sustainability, growing eSIM use, and scaling IoT with full-stack solutions

Trend 1: True global coverage is on the horizon

Imagine a world where you never lose connection. For those living in urban areas with strong 5G networks, this may already feel like a reality. However, significant coverage gaps still exist across the globe – particularly in remote and hard-to-reach regions. While losing signal is an inconvenience for individuals, it has bigger implications for the IoT world. Industries such as logistics and agriculture, which rely on tracking data and real-time updates, are particularly affected by the lack of reliable coverage in areas like open seas or deserts. Without secure network access, location tracking and real-time data transmission become nearly impossible.

Fortunately, this challenge may soon be a thing of the past. Recent breakthroughs in satellite connectivity have made true global coverage a realistic possibility. Until recently, the proprietary nature and high costs of satellite infrastructure posed substantial barriers to adoption. However, new interoperability standards and technological advances have made it possible for terrestrial networks, like 5G, to integrate with satellite-based networks, keeping devices connected anywhere on the planet.

This integration is key. Satellite connectivity will not replace terrestrial networks but will complement them by filling in connectivity gaps where terrestrial infrastructure is limited. Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations are particularly well suited for this purpose; positioned closer to Earth than traditional satellites, they provide low-latency, high-speed connections that are ideal for real-time IoT applications. In the transport and logistics sector, for example, this means that IoT devices on cargo ships or remote freight routes can remain connected at all times, enabling constant tracking regardless of location.

Beyond industrial applications, satellite-enabled IoT opens up new possibilities for environmental conservation. There are already inspiring examples of IoT being used to track endangered species, and expanding coverage to previously inaccessible areas will enrich these efforts, giving conservationists more opportunities to monitor and protect wildlife populations.

City with digital data strips going upwards

Trend 2: IoT as a driver for sustainability

Environmental sustainability is a challenge facing individuals, organisations and governments across the globe. IoT technology can be a powerful tool for supporting sustainability efforts, and many are already integrating it.

In smart homes, devices like thermostats and energy monitors are empowering people to make environmentally friendly choices by optimising energy usage, while at a societal level, cities like London, Barcelona, and Singapore are adopting technologies like air-quality sensors and smart street lighting to reduce their collective carbon footprint. These are just a few examples showcasing how IoT can help address emissions at scale, improving urban environments.

However, IoT technology also offers businesses across all industries tools for lowering their carbon footprint. This is especially valuable in an age where environmental sustainability is seen not only as a moral obligation, but also as a strategic priority for creating a long-term competitive edge.

Take agriculture, for example, where IoT sensors that monitor soil conditions and weather patterns are helping farmers to make precise decisions on irrigation and fertiliser use, which reduces water consumption and chemical runoff. Or manufacturing, where IoT-connected equipment monitors energy use, identifies inefficiencies, and adjusts operations to reduce waste and emissions.

By embracing IoT, every industry has the opportunity to take advantage of these efficiency gains and contribute to global sustainability goals, creating a greener and more responsible future.

Trend 3: Encouraging eSIM adoption

As one of the most important connectivity technologies, eSIM is set to gain further traction in both consumer and IoT markets in 2025. In the consumer sector, we can expect more devices with eSIM compatibility, with Apple leading the charge by releasing its third consecutive eSIM-only iPhone model in the US. Despite this progress, only 36% of global smartphone users1 are currently aware of eSIM, highlighting a pressing need to increase awareness of its benefits and drive adoption.

Beyond consumer applications, eSIM’s true value lies in unlocking IoT growth. Here, too, adoption has been slower than anticipated, with 64% of cellular IoT adopters still not using eSIM, and 41.3% of those unaware of its benefits.2 To achieve widespread adoption, more work needs to be done to convince businesses of the benefits of eSIM in realising their connectivity goals. As Philipp Schulte, CEO of Mobile Security at G+D, emphasised in a recent interview with Spotlight, "eSIM can play a crucial role in achieving that by simplifying the initial provisioning and ongoing management of IoT devices.”

Until recently, IoT’s potential has been constrained by interoperability challenges and the complexities of deploying, managing, and scaling large fleets of IoT devices. However, the introduction of the GSMA’s SGP.32 standard for remote eSIM provisioning has removed many of the obstacles to IoT deployment and scalability. This standard enables manufacturers and IoT operators to remotely manage and configure devices across multiple networks, eliminating the need for physical activation and significantly enhancing operational efficiency.

And it doesn’t stop with eSIM. In a recent breakthrough, G+D and Japanese manufacturer Murata recently released the world’s first cellular IoT module that integrates SGP.32 with integrated SIM (iSIM) technology. This is another important milestone in simplifying connectivity and paving the way for the next generation of IoT connectivity.

Finally, both eSIM and iSIM contribute significantly to sustainability efforts (Trend 2). As the greenest SIM on the market, eSIM eliminates the need for physical SIM cards, reducing both material waste and carbon emissions. With billions of eSIMs already deployed globally, the environmental impact of this transition is significant.

Facts & figures

0%

of global smartphone users are aware of eSIM technology

0billion

IoT devices are expected to be deployed by 2028

0%

of cellular IoT adopters are still not using eSIM

Trend 4: The full-stack approach

For all its merits, eSIM is just one element in a broader “connectivity stack” that will support IoT growth by taking a more holistic approach to IoT management. The stack comprises four layers: eSIM, IoT connectivity, security and authentication, and connectivity management. When fully combined, these layers enable global, end-to-end, secure, and managed IoT connectivity through a single, unified interface.

In short, the full-stack approach is an essential vehicle for overcoming many of the interoperability hurdles that have prevented companies from realising the true potential of IoT. 

As the number of connected IoT devices grows each year – 34 billion devices are expected to be deployed by 20283 – so does the complexity of managing, securing, and ensuring the interoperability of these devices. A full-stack approach to IoT connectivity addresses these challenges, simplifying management and making IoT more accessible. By integrating the four layers into one comprehensive management suite, companies can overcome scalability and interoperability obstacles, helping them realise the full potential of IoT.

For companies starting their journey or unsure how to scale their IoT deployments, partnering with a trusted provider like G+D is worthwhile. With solutions like the IoT Suite and AirOn360®® eSIM management platform, G+D provides partners across multiple industries with scalable, reliable connectivity solutions that simplify network management and streamline global deployments.

Key takeaways

  • Advances in satellite and 5G networks are enabling seamless global IoT coverage, providing reliable connectivity in remote areas for industries like logistics, agriculture, and conservation.
  • IoT is driving sustainability across industries – from tracking endangered species to waste reduction.
  • eSIM technology offers flexible, sustainable global IoT connectivity, removing the need for physical SIM cards and simplifying remote device management worldwide.
  • Integrating hardware, software, and connectivity through a full-stack approach is essential for scalable, flexible IoT ecosystems that meet the demands of massive deployments.
  1. Accelerating eSIM globally, GSMA, 2023

  2. Enterprise Cellular IoT Demands and Opportunities, Kaleido Intelligence, 2023 

  3. IoT Connectivity, G+D, 2024

Published: 23/01/2025

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