Industry executives and experts share their predictions for 2019. Read them in this 11th annual VMblog.com series exclusive.
Contributed by Philippe Guillemette, Chief Technology Officer, Sierra Wireless
Amazonification of the IoT, Connected Car Growth, the Emergence of the IoLST, eSIMs driving IoT growth
As another year of rapid growth for the IoT comes to a close, here are some predictions for how the IoT will continue to expand and transform in 2019:
The Amazonification of the IoT will begin
Starting in 2019, we will see a turning point for the IoT led by D2C IoT platforms that radically simplify IoT infrastructure in the same way that cloud services did IT infrastructure. These D2C IoT platforms will deliver IoT devices, wireless connectivity, cloud-based network management, data orchestration, security and the other infrastructure needed to deploy IoT applications via a single, tightly integrated, easy-to-deploy, use and scale solution able to support simple, transparent business models. They will provide enterprises with the agility to exponentially reduce the time, expenses and complexity associated with the entire IoT lifecycle, so that the IoT increasingly becomes one of the main ways enterprises use digital transformation to create and deliver value to their customers.
Autonomous Car Hype will Hit a Wall, while Automakers will Put the Pedal to the Metal on Connected Car Services
In 2019, the autonomous car hype cycle we’ve been hearing about for years will hit a wall, as automakers, policymakers and the general public increasingly realize that requirements for full autonomous driving to be commercialized will not be generally available or implemented before 2025. Instead, automakers will focus on developing new and more powerful connected car services – including navigation, safety, in-car Wi-Fi, insurance and infotainment services – that can take advantage of the cost and speed advantages of soon to be launched 5G cellular wireless networks. Your car might not soon be driving itself, but with these new connected car services, you and your passengers’ experience behind the wheel will still be radically transformed over the coming years.
The Emergence of the Internet of Life Saving Things (IoLST)
While public safety agencies and private companies recognize the potential of using the IoT to better protect people and property, they have struggled to either integrate the IoT deeply into wearables or other equipment or, in the case of public safety agencies, were slowed by their need for a dedicated, reliable, high-speed public safety wireless network that they can depend on for mission-critical IoT applications. However, the rollout of FirstNet, the new high-speed dedicated communications “fast lane” for public safety agencies, provides first responders and other public safety personnel with the reliable, fast connectivity they need for Internet of Live Saving Things (IoLST) solutions that can help them do their jobs more efficiently and effectively.
In 2019 and the years beyond, we can expect to see a variety of new IoLST solutions being developed – solutions like firefighter helmets with sensors that can measure a fire’s temperatures and communicate them to Central Command, automated drones that can arrive at a shooting or other crime scene before police, and EMS personnel bodycams that can send real-time video of patients to hospitals while the patient is still in the ambulance.
eSIMs will Act as a Catalyst for IoT Growth
Apple’s inclusion of an eSIM in its new iPhones, iPads and watches will accelerate eSIM adoption in 2019, pushing large-scale deployment and interoperability across carriers globally. While the move to eSIMs will have an impact on the smartphone market, over the long term, it will have more impact on unlocking the IoT market. For example, using traditional, plastic SIM cards creates major logistical and reliability issues for companies deploying IoT solutions with cellular connectivity. In addition, eSIMs will allow IoT solution vendors to deliver complete, fully managed easy-to-deploy IoT platforms with features like data orchestration, that allow customers to get the data they need from their assets and focus on their business applications.
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About the Author
As CTO of Sierra Wireless, Philippe Guillemette has a mandate to drive common technology platform activities and innovation across all business units. Philippe joined Sierra Wireless in March 2009 from Wavecom, where he served as CTO since 2003 and VP of Marketing since 2005. Philippe joined Wavecom in 1993 and held various positions there, including VP of Research and Development, VP of Technology, and Director of Software Development. Prior to joining Wavecom, Philippe was a software engineer at Nortel Networks.
