Five IoT trends for 2026

The IoT is forecast to grow to 21.9 billion connections in 2026 and around 30 billion at the start of the next decade. Businesses and consumers continually find new ways the IoT can help them be faster, safer and more informed. As IoT use cases evolve, so too do the technologies, standards, regulations, and business and commercial models that make it all possible. In all these areas we expect developments in 2026. Read on for our view.

In brief: 2026 IoT trends

• Wireless Logic anticipates five IoT trends for 2026 spanning technologies, standards, regulations, and business and commercial models

• 2026 will see a move away from simple coverage comparisons and price-led decisions in the IoT, in favour of providers offering real flexibility, clear guidance and the confidence of adaptability when rules or network conditions change, according to Cyril Deschanel, group MD Europe & UK, Wireless Logic

• Looking ahead to the IoT in 2026, Iain Davidson, Wireless Logic’s head of product marketing, says: “By adopting SIM and certificate-based identity frameworks and real-time threat monitoring, the IoT sector can meet compliance requirements without stifling progress, transforming regulation from a brake on innovation into a catalyst for more secure, scalable connectivity.”

Priorities will shift from coverage and price to resilience and flexibility

“In 2026 the decline of ‘connect and forget’ IoT will reshape the entire competitive landscape.

“As countries tighten digital rules and data expectations, global IoT will depend far more on how well providers can help enterprises navigate shifting policies and long-term uncertainty.

“This will push the market away from simple coverage comparisons and price-led decisions. Instead, the strongest competitors will be the ones who can offer real flexibility, clear guidance and the confidence that fleets can adapt when rules or network conditions change.

“With standards like SGP.32 promising smoother updates at scale, enterprises will gravitate towards partners who think ahead rather than react. This will be the difference between providers selling connectivity and providers shaping how organisations stay resilient in a world where nothing stays still for long.”

Telecoms and enterprises will rethink resilience

“As major outages dominate headlines, 2026 will see telecoms and enterprises rethink resilience. Networks and cloud infrastructure are inherently robust, yet maintenance, overloads, cyberattacks and even extreme weather and construction combine to make outages somewhat inevitable. Businesses must adopt a "not if, but when” mindset.

“Enterprises and OEMs must pick resilient partners but also design smarter: devices should fail safely, work offline and support rapid recovery. With video, LiDAR and AI adding strain, the sector must mature fast. Updated standards like EN18031 set the tone and Wireless Logic will continue to adopt and implement end-to-end. 

“In 2026, IoT innovation risks being slowed by increasingly complex cybersecurity legislation and certification demands. Yet, the technology to meet these standards largely exists rooted in the same identity management and threat detection principles long proven in finance, mobile and enterprise remote access. By adopting SIM and certificate-based identity frameworks and real-time threat monitoring, the IoT sector can meet compliance requirements without stifling progress, transforming regulation from a brake on innovation into a catalyst for more secure, scalable connectivity.”

Enterprises will seek joined-up IoT solutions to shrink time to market

“The total cost of ownership (TCO) of the IoT is on a downward trend, and this is likely to continue in 2026 as hardware, connectivity and operational costs improve. However, TCO will continue to be impacted by failed rollouts and unanticipated challenges when IoT solutions are poorly planned and have dependencies spread across multiple third-party providers.

“To meet enterprise needs in 2026, IoT solution providers must transition from selling projects and SIMs to instead offer resilient, secure, outcome-driven solutions.  

“Enterprises need secure solutions that provide actionable data and measurable business outcomes, rather than just cellular connectivity. Under pressure, they will seek joined-up solutions that shrink time to market by removing the hassle that comes with having to stitch together multiple vendors.”

The dream of genuine remote connectivity will become a reality

“The reality of SGP.32 will come to the fore - there will be a realisation that eSIM is just a delivery vehicle for connectivity, not necessarily a unicorn new product that will change the industry. Providers who can offer a breadth of connectivity solutions across markets will shine brightest. The dream of genuine remote connectivity provisioning will unfold, as it was dreamt of years ago, and those without strong connectivity products will suffer.

“SGP.32 will encourage new IoT connectivity providers, particularly those who have served the consumer market, but this will highlight the value of mature IoT connectivity providers and their advanced value add services and platforms that provide connectivity at scale.”

ASEAN’s IoT future depends on coordination rather than fragmentation

“In 2026, ASEAN nations and enterprises must begin a transition away from the current fragmented approach and towards a unified, interoperable and data-centric regional ecosystem.

“If ASEAN can shift its focus from isolated national or sectoral projects towards a coordinated regional approach, it could unlock cross-border data value, build trust and bring forth innovation at scale. One way it can do this is by adopting industry/global standards, such as SGP.32, for seamless connectivity.

“In the region, supply chain and logistics is experiencing significant year-on-year growth. This sector will continue to incorporate AI into its IoT solutions with AI-driven safety in vehicle IP cameras, AI-powered sensors, and analytics to predict vehicle/truck failures and enable real-time shipment and fleet tracking.”

How Wireless Logic can help your IoT succeed in 2026

Wireless Logic’s diverse and enriched product capabilities and services portfolio support both cellular and satellite options, security, hardware selection, secure onboarding, APIs, dashboards and alerting. Get in touch to discuss your IoT needs in 2026.