5G IoT connections to hit 116 million by 2026: Juniper

5G internet of things (IoT) connections will hit 116 million globally by 2026, surpassing 100 million for the first time, according to a new Juniper report.

In 2023, IoT connections will sit around 17 million, a 1,100 percent growth. This major surge in IoT connections will be due to healthcare and smart city services growth.

The research, 5G Monetisation: Business Models, Strategic Recommendations & Market Forecasts 2022-2027, examined 5G adoption across key sectors, such as the automotive industry, mobile broadband and smart homes, and forecasts that the healthcare and smart cities market will account for over 60 percent of 5G IoT devices by 2026.

The ultra-low latency and high bandwidth of 5G IoT technology will be the key factors in driving this proliferation of new connections.

The report anticipates that 5G networks will experience significant growth in smart city services; owing to its cost-effectiveness in deployment and ability to carry significant amounts of data.

Olivia Williams, research co-author at Juniper said, “5G will enable more efficient and dynamic healthcare provision that was not feasible with 4G or Wi-Fi. However, healthcare providers must first implement 5G in areas which provide a strong return on investment; most notably connected emergency services.”

By 2026, there will be over 60 million 5G smart city connections globally, and the report urges city-planning authorities to leverage 5G connectivity as high-bandwidth gateways. It found that monitoring transportation networks, including road and rail networks, will be key services requiring 5G-enabled high-bandwidth cellular connectivity.

Investment from healthcare providers into 5G-based services will be driven by the need to modernise services, as the global COVID-19 pandemic exposed inefficiencies in healthcare provision.

The report identified services including telemedicine, connected ambulances and emergency services, and real‑time remote monitoring as key services that will be immediately improved by the integration of 5G services.