Omdia Forecasts Cellular IoT Connections to Reach 5.9 Billion by 2035

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 8, 2025--

The cellular IoT market is poised for significant growth in the coming years, with connections expected to surge to 5.9 billion by 2035, as revealed by new research from Omdia.

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This in-depth study highlights the transformative impact of 5G technologies on the cellular IoT landscape, identifying three pivotal technologies as primary growth drivers: 5G RedCap, 5G Massive IoT, and 4G LTE Cat-1bis modules.

5G eRedCap: Launch momentum to build in 2026

The research highlights 5G RedCap as a transformative development, with adoption projected to gain momentum starting in 2025. Positioned as the optimal mid-tier connectivity solution, RedCap caters to 5G devices that do not require the advanced specifications of Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communications (uRLLC) or Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB). Additionally, RedCap offers critical futureproofing benefits as the industry transitions toward phasing out 4G networks beyond 2030.

The study notes that while initial deployment of RedCap has been slower than expected, 2025 has showed some promise with the launch of the latest Apple Watch range that incorporates RedCap technology. Complementing this growth, eRedCap module launches are expected to begin in 2026, further expanding mid-tier connectivity options and driving adoption across a broader range of use cases.

"The implementation of 5G RedCap in the latest range of Apple Watches has signalled the starting gun for RedCap adoption," explains Alexander Thompson, Senior Analyst for IoT at Omdia. "Going forward, enterprises will have a wider and wider selection of connectivity technologies to benefit any application. The expected launch of 5G eRedCap modules in 2026 will provide further cellular IoT connection growth over the next decade.”

Automotive will comprise one in five cellular IoT connections in 2035

The automotive segment will rise from 500m connections to around 1.2bn over the next ten years, increasing its market share from 13% to 21%. Most of this connection growth will originate from Asia & Oceania, which will see its automotive segment rise due to increasing consumer demand for intelligent vehicles with 5G connectivity.

“The rapid rise of software-defined vehicles, the fundamental need for over-the-air updates, regulatory mandates and vehicle-to-everything, are all made possible by cellular connected vehicles, which is why we expect to see vehicles represent 1 in 5 cellular connections by 2025,” added Andrew Brown, IoT Practice Lead at Omdia.

Omdia's Cellular IoT Market Tracker 2021-2035 highlights the latest trends in the cellular IoT market, providing key analysis by region, air interface and application of module shipments, module revenues, connections (installed base) and connectivity revenues.

ABOUT OMDIA

Omdia, part of Informa TechTarget, Inc. (Nasdaq: TTGT), is a technology research and advisory group. Our deep knowledge of tech markets grounded in real conversations with industry leaders and hundreds of thousands of data points, make our market intelligence our clients’ strategic advantage. From R&D to ROI, we identify the greatest opportunities and move the industry forward.

Cellular IoT module shipments by region, 2025-35

SPINDLERUV MLYN, Czech Republic (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin dominated the opening run of the last women’s World Cup slalom before the Olympics on Sunday to close in on her record ninth season title in the discipline.

Shiffrin built a big lead of 1.26 seconds over second-placed Wendy Holdener of Switzerland, and Germany's Emma Aicher in third had 1.47 to make up in the final run.

Shiffrin has won six of the previous seven slaloms this season and will lock up the title on Sunday if she finishes eighth or better, giving her an insurmountable lead over her only remaining challenger in the season standings, Camille Rast.

Shiffrin led the Swiss skier by 268 points coming into Sunday’s race, with a win worth 100 points. There are two more slaloms scheduled after the Olympics.

Rast stood fourth in Sunday’s race, sharing the position with Paula Moltzan, as they both finished 1.66 behind.

Rast triumphed in the only slalom Shiffrin didn’t win this season, in Slovenia three weeks ago.

Shiffrin opened Sunday's race with a near-flawless run on the Cerna Svaty Petr course.

“There were two turns that went like really quick, and I was a little bit like, close your eyes, I don't know if I’m going to stay on the course,” Shiffrin said.

“And after that, I had to push like 120% so in the end it was a really good run. It was pretty high intensity.”

Shiffrin would become the first skier, female or male, in the six-decade-long history of the World Cup to win nine titles in one discipline.

She shares the current best mark with American teammate Lindsey Vonn, who has eight downhill titles. On the men’s side, Ingemar Stenmark won the slalom globe and Marcel Hirscher the overall title eight times each.

Shiffrin’s 70 career race wins in slalom and 107 overall are both records for men and women.

AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing

Switzerland's Camille Rast speeds down the course during an alpine ski, women's World Cup slalom, in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during an alpine ski, women's World Cup slalom, in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Pier Marco Tacca)

United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during an alpine ski, women's World Cup slalom, in Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Pier Marco Tacca)