We stand on the cusp of a world of ubiquitous connectivity courtesy of fibre, 5G, low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites and diverse other technologies. This hyperconnectivity is our term for one of the great enablers of Digital Transformation, in particular of Autonomous Robotic Systems, the Internet of Things and Edge Computing. Of course, connectivity technologies already support billions of smartphones and other web-enabled devices, but they also allow for data gathering from more sensors, providing richer information on the world around us, for the remote control of machines, revolutionising working processes, and open up the potential for greater autonomy to cyber-physical systems courtesy of AI.
The most prominent development in recent years has been the arrival of 5G which promises higher bandwidth, lower latency and support for the billions of devices assumed in the growth of IoT. It is also crucial in the ramping up of private networks and the growth of multi-access edge computing (MEC). But the exciting developments don’t stop at 5G. Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) networks are also becoming more a part of the fabric of IoT deployments, albeit one where there is perhaps a shade too much technology fragmentation. Network function virtualisation (NFV) has promised for years to revolutionise the network, making it much more of a flexible IT asset than a rigid piece of infrastructure. Ultimately we are heading for a world of agile Ultra Dense Networks (UDNs) aggregating diverse technologies and managed by software.
This Technology Insight Report provides an overview of the connectivity technologies that will be key to Digital Transformation. It describes the overall market dynamics for technologies, including the market size as it pertains to Digital Transformation, and development trajectory, use cases, best practices, and recent market developments. The report explores the vendor landscape, innovative players, vendor selection criteria, and highlights opportunities and risks for end users.
The report also includes an analysis of the key solution characteristics of relevant case studies contained in Transforma Insights’ Best Practice & Vendor Selection database, including payback time, process efficiency and value proposition impact, and a range of technology-specific characteristics.
New for 2021 the report includes highlights of our new Hyperconnectivity forecast which tracks all of the embedded connectivity technologies (rather than just the highest embedded technology) on IoT devices. The Hyperconnectivity elements of the forecast are available via the TAM Forecasts page by selecting the 'All embedded technologies' option.
