IoT connections are the links that allow devices, sensors, and systems to exchange data. They form the foundation of every Internet of Things solution. This guide explains the main types of IoT connectivity — from cellular and LPWAN to Wi-Fi and satellite — and how each fits different use cases.
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IoT-connected devices now form the backbone of a data-driven world, where sensors, software, and systems continuously exchange information. The essential enabling technology is the connection between the “things” of IoT — allowing physical objects to communicate and interact in real time. Across industries, these connections unlock new efficiencies, business models, and revenue streams.
Different IoT connection types are used depending on the needs of each device or application — from simple sensors that send small data packets infrequently to always-connected equipment that transmits large volumes at high speed and low latency. The range of possibilities extends from something as small as a medical sensor to something as large as an agricultural machine.
As IoT matures, the number of active connections continues to accelerate. Industry estimates suggest that there are now more than 16 billion IoT connections worldwide, surpassing the number of non-IoT connected devices such as smartphones and PCs.
There were about 16 billion connected IoT devices in 2023 (as reported by IoT Analytics). Forecasts project growth to approximately 18.8 billion by 2024, with long-term estimates pointing to 38–40 billion connected devices by 2030 (IoT Analytics, Ericsson Mobility Report).
This figure is expected to exceed 30 billion by 2025, as the physical and digital worlds merge and connectivity becomes embedded in almost everything.
The types of IoT devices being connected vary widely — from sensors and actuators performing simple tasks like monitoring temperature or motion, to complex systems such as connected vehicles that can be geo-fenced and tracked in real time. Continuous connectivity has already proven critical in areas such as cold-chain logistics and predictive maintenance, while newer applications are emerging that depend on ultra-reliable, low-latency links for uses like remote healthcare and real-time video analytics.
With tens of billions of connected devices, IoT use cases are expanding rapidly across sectors — driving innovation and creating new data ecosystems. Connection technologies are evolving in parallel to meet diverse needs for bandwidth, coverage, power efficiency, and scalability. Cellular networks from 2G to 5G and beyond now coexist with LPWAN, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and satellite solutions, ensuring that every IoT device can be matched with an optimal connection. Choosing the right IoT connection always depends on factors such as coverage, network availability, and the physical environment of the deployment.
Different connection types and device categories are converging to form a truly hyperscale Internet of Things, bridging the digital and physical worlds and enabling intelligent automation at global scale.
Low power wide area networks typically utilise unlicensed radio technologies to enable relatively low capacity over sites such as factories, campuses and mines. Most offer a cost-effective, low power alternative to cellular connectivity, with the exception of NB-IoT, and are well-suited for IoT applications that require modest throughput.
Key types of LPWA connectivity include:
Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology mainly used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances using UHF radio waves in the ISM bands, from 2.402 GHz to 2.48 GHz, and building personal area networks. Its characteristics make it suitable only for short distance deployments.
Bluetooth Low Energy is aimed at applications in healthcare, security, home entertainment and wireless beacons. Independent of Bluetooth, BLE offers reduced power consumption while maintaining the range of classic Bluetooth.
LoRaWAN is a networking protocol for connecting wireless battery operated devices to the internet in regional, national or global networks. It addresses IoT requirements such as bi-directional communication, end-to-end security, mobility and localisation services. LoRaWAN baud rates range from 0.3 kbps to 50 kbps.
NB-IoT is a low power wide area (LPWA) technology developed to enable a wide range of IoT devices and services. NB-IoT significantly improves the power consumption of user devices, system capacity and spectrum efficiency, especially in deep coverage in contrast to cellular networks. Battery life of more than 10 years can be supported for a wide range of use cases. It provides a simpler, lower bandwidth alternative to cellular connectivity.
Sigfox is similar to LoRaWAN in that it is a technology designed for global roll-out to provide wireless networks to connect low power objects such as smart meters. It has low power characteristics and utilises the 900MHz band with networks in 72 countries, covering 5.8 million square kilometres, as of November 2020. Sigfox communication supports up to 140 uplink messages a day, which can carry a payload of 12 octets at a data rate of 100 bits per second.
Wi-Fi is commonly used for local area networking of devices and for internet access. Well known in home and small office networks, the technology is also utilised in enterprises to connect devices and provide public internet access for mobile devices. Wi-Fi has a range of 20-150 metres and some versions can achieve speeds of more than 1Gbps.
With the recent Wi-Fi 6 standard, the technology has more to offer IoT. Wi-Fi 6 offers data rates up to 10 Gbps with eight antennas and the technology can serve power-hungry devices with large batteries, such as mobile phones, tablets, and laptops. By operating at 5 GHz, Wi-Fi 6 avoids the highly congested 2.4 GHz frequency band and offers improved data throughput, increased robustness and reduced power consumption in comparison to previous Wi-Fi.
Zigbee is a communications protocol used to create personal area networks with small, low power digital radios. Typical applications include home automation, medical device data collection and other low power, low bandwidth use cases. The technology is limited to transmission distances of 10-100 metres with a line of sight in order to keep power consumption low. Zigbee has a defined data rate of 250Kbps and is suited for intermittent data transmission.
Beyond the networks themselves, IoT depends on physical devices and components that sense, process, and communicate data.
As devices and systems become interconnected, physical assets increasingly interact with digital systems through these technologies and processes.
A system designed to capture, manipulate, analyze, manage and present spatial or geographic data.
A technology created by the US Government that allows for location services.
IoT connections rely on embedded hardware and network identifiers that manage communication, authentication, and data exchange.
Together, these technologies form the foundation of global IoT connectivity — linking billions of devices and enabling intelligent, data-driven systems.
