Cellular IoT Market Overview

The Cellular IoT market will grow a lot between 2025 and 2035. This growth comes from more connected devices and better mobile networks. The market was about USD 8.1 billion in 2025. By 2035, it should reach USD 68.0 billion. This is a yearly growth of 31.2% over ten years.

Cellular IoT uses mobile tech like 4G LTE, 5G, and NB-IoT. It connects devices easily. This helps smart applications in many fields. Cellular IoT is key to digital change. It's vital in cars, health, factories, farms, and power. A big reason for growth is the spread of 5G networks. They offer quick speeds and connect many devices. Smart city plans and Industry 4.0 also boost demand. New low-power network tech like NB-IoT and LTE-M also helps. These save energy and money. They work well for devices using batteries. The market will grow strongly. Companies are focusing on new ideas. They want to scale up and add AI. Edge computing will also make IoT features stronger.

Cellular IoT Market Drivers and Opportunities

Rapid Deployment Of 5G Networks Is Anticipated To Lift The Cellular IoT Market During The Forecast Period

​One of the strongest drivers in the cellular IoT market is the fast, widespread adoption of 5G technology globally. 5G delivers massive improvements in terms of bandwidth, device density, and latency over its predecessors. Such features are pivotal for applications where data is to be sent in real-time, e.g., autonomous transportation, remote surgeries, and industrial automation. With up to 1 million devices in every square kilometer, 5G is perfectly suited for dense IoT installations, such as smart cities and large factories. Low latency ensures that data transfer from devices to systems is almost instant, which is imperative for mission-critical applications. With increased investment in 5G infrastructure by more countries and increased coverage by network operators, organizations across industries are taking advantage of 5G-based IoT solutions. Not only does this speed up digital transformation, but it also enables novel use cases that were not possible with existing 3G or 4G technologies. Telecom companies are also partnering with IoT solution companies to create industry-specific solutions, thus catalyzing market growth. Analysis from the industry predicts that marketplace proliferation of 5G will lead to exponential growth in the cellular IoT market size in the years to come, as it is the foundation for next-gen connectivity.

Growing Industrial Automation and Industry 4.0 are Vital Drivers for Influencing the Growth Of The Global Cellular IoT market

​The movement towards Industry 4.0 and growing emphasis on industrial automation are significantly driving demand for cellular IoT. Industry 4.0 is all about leveraging smart technologies, including IoT, AI, machine learning, and robotics, to develop intelligent industrial systems. Cellular IoT allows for smooth communication among machines, sensors, and central controllers, enabling predictive servicing, remote monitoring, and real-time process optimization. Unlike fixed wired networks, cellular IoT offers flexibility, scalability, and affordability for large-scale industrial installations. For example, LTE-M and NB-IoT are being used widely for their low power usage and capacity to serve a high volume of devices over vast distances. These properties are especially useful in applications such as logistics, energy, manufacturing, and agriculture, where ongoing monitoring is important to performance and security. The capacity to collect data in real-time also results in better decision-making, lower downtime, and increased productivity. Also, manufacturing hubs globally, particularly in Asia and Europe, are adopting automation to stay in business, generating demand for IoT infrastructure based on cellular connectivity. Consequently, cellular IoT is evolving to become a pillar technology in modern industry evolution, contributing markedly to market growth expectations over the coming ten years.

Rising Demand In Healthcare and Remote Patient Monitoring Is Poised to Create Significant Opportunities In The Global Cellular IoT Market    

​Healthcare offers a huge opportunity for cellular IoT, particularly in response to growing demands for telemedicine and remote patient monitoring (RPM). Cellular connectivity ensures that medical devices are free from local network constraints, enabling seamless data communication between patients and health professionals. This is especially important for chronic care, elderly care, and post-surgery care. Wearable ECG monitors, glucose monitors, and blood pressure cuffs are examples of such devices, which can send data in real-time to platforms in the cloud, allowing for timely diagnosis and intervention. With aging population growth and increasing pressure on health systems, there is an imperative to transition from hospital-centric care to home-centric monitoring, where cellular IoT comes in handy. Additionally, innovations in eSIM technologies and cellular modules with low power have enabled IoT medical devices to be smaller, more reliable, and energy-conservative. The COVID-19 outbreak saw an uptick in the adoption of connected health solutions, which continues to shape health care. Governments and insurance payers are increasingly backing initiatives supporting telemedicine, which is adding more traction to adoption. Consequently, healthcare offers one of the fastest-growing opportunities for cellular IoT, with growth in markets envisioned as health becomes more digital.

Cellular IoT Market Scope

Cellular IoT Market Report Segmentation Analysis

The Global Cellular IoT Market Industry Analysis Is Segmented Into By Network, By Connection, By Application, By End-User, And By Region.

The 5G Segment Is Anticipated To Hold The Highest Share Of The Global Cellular Iot Market During The Projected Timeframe.

Based on the network, the market is segmented as 2G/3G, 4G, LTE-M, 5G, and NB-IoT. In 2025, the 5G segment dominates the market with 49.7% of the market share. Because of its revolutionary effects on connection, performance, and scalability across IoT applications, the 5G category is in a strong position.  In order to support advanced IoT use cases like remote surgery, smart manufacturing, autonomous vehicles, and real-time industrial automation, 5G offers ultra-low latency, increased data transfer speeds, and the ability to link millions of devices per square kilometer.

The Broadband Segment Dominated The Market In 2025 And Is Predicted To Grow At The Highest CAGR Over The Forecast Period.

By connection, the market is segmented into Wi-Fi, broadband, satellite, cable, and others. Among these, the global cellular IoT market is dominated by the broadband segment.  Broadband is perfect for enabling a variety of Internet of Things applications that require real-time data transfer and smooth device integration since it can offer fast, dependable, and continuous internet connectivity.

The Broadband IoT Segment Is Predicted To Grow At The Highest CAGR Over The Forecast Period.

By application, the market is segmented into Broadband IoT, Massive IoT, Industrial Automation, and Critical IoT. Among these, the global cellular IoT market is dominated by the broadband IoT segment because of its capacity to support high-data-rate applications in a variety of industries.  For bandwidth-intensive applications like in-car infotainment, smart healthcare systems, video surveillance, and real-time analytics in logistics and transportation, broadband IoT makes use of cellular connectivity.

The Commercial/Enterprise Segment Is Expected To Dominate The Market During The Forecast Period.

By end-user, the market is segmented into Individual, Commercial/Enterprise, and Industrial. The commercial/enterprise segment dominates the global cellular IoT market due to the rising need for connected infrastructure, real-time monitoring, and automation across various business sectors. Enterprises in retail, logistics, healthcare, finance, and smart buildings are increasingly adopting cellular IoT solutions to streamline operations, enhance security, and improve customer experiences. The integration of IoT in commercial settings supports applications such as asset tracking, energy management, fleet management, and remote diagnostics, all of which demand reliable, scalable, and high-speed cellular connectivity.

The following segments are part of an in-depth analysis of the global cellular IoT market:

Cellular IoT Market Share Analysis by Region

Asia Pacific Is Projected To Hold The Largest Share Of The Global Cellular IoT Market Over The Forecast Period.

In 2025, the Asia Pacific region holds a significant share of 43.4% in the overall market, bolstered by its accelerated digitalization, growing industrial base, and growing deployment of smart infrastructure. China, Japan, South Korea, and India are leaders in cellular IoT adoption, fueled by massive government initiatives such as China's "Made in China 2025" and India's "Digital India" program. The region is also undergoing rapid growth with the presence of major telecom service providers and IoT solution providers. Furthermore, the wide-scale deployment of 5G networks, growing smartphone penetration, and growing adoption of smart devices in manufacturing, transportation, agriculture, and smart cities have contributed significantly to the domination of the region. Asia Pacific's investment in automation and Industry 4.0 technologies also drives cellular IoT growth in commercial and industrial sectors. The large population base of the region, coupled with evolving demands for efficient, networked service in urban as well as rural geographies, continues to propel the market.

Moreover, North America is also expected to have the highest CAGR over the forecast period, which will be driven by superior network infrastructure and high adoption of IoT in the automobile and health sectors, along with increasing expenditure in smart technologies in various sectors.

Cellular IoT Market Competition Landscape Analysis

The global cellular IoT market is poised for significant growth, with key players investing heavily in technology and infrastructure. These companies are actively engaged in research and development, strategic partnerships, and large-scale project implementations to enhance their market positions. ​

Global Cellular IoT Market Recent Developments News:

●        In January 2025, at CES 2024 in Norway, Nordic Semiconductor unveiled its latest IoT advancements, showcasing innovations in low-power Wi-Fi, LE Audio, Matter, and power management. The demonstrations highlighted key IoT technologies, including cellular IoT (LTE-M/NB-IoT), low-power Wi-Fi, Matter, DECT NR+, and Bluetooth LE, reinforcing the company's role in shaping the IoT ecosystem. These developments underscore Nordic Semiconductor’s commitment to advancing efficient and scalable IoT solutions for diverse applications.

●        In November 2023, Telenor joined forces with Polarium to deliver global IoT connectivity services for energy storage solutions. By utilizing Telenor’s cellular-managed connectivity, Polarium can offer advanced digital solutions such as fleet management, anti-theft systems, remote monitoring, and real-time tracking. This partnership ensures seamless and secure coverage for energy storage systems worldwide, enhancing efficiency and reliability. The collaboration highlights the growing role of IoT in sustainable energy management.

The Global Cellular IoT Market is dominated by a few large companies, such as

●        AT&T Corporation 

●        China Mobile Communications Group Co., Ltd.

●        Ericsson

●        Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. 

●        Nokia Corporation 

●        Nordic Semiconductor ASA 

●        Qualcomm Incorporated 

●        Sierra Wireless 

●        Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson 

●        Telit Communications (Thales Group) 

●        Vodafone

●        Zhongxing New Telecommunications Equipment Co., Ltd. 

●        Others

●        Others