5G is all about a better way to connect. There are more devices than ever before that we rely on the Internet to connect. The Internet of Things (IoT) is the connection of various devices that can communicate with us and each other.
As technology grows, this list becomes more and more unconventional and will involve everything from home appliances to complex infrastructures found in cities around the world. There are accessories we wear, automated ships, and everything in between. The IoT is here to connect our world in new and innovative ways. But getting connected is a lot easier on paper than it is in reality. Sure, we continue to see breakthrough after breakthrough in the wireless world, but it is because of organizations such as the Internet of Things Consortium (IoTC) that we can see them at all.
Created to help businesses collaborate and advance the interests of the IoT, the IoTC is an organization creating a healthy environment that fosters communication, innovation, and solutions. 5G is ready to power the IoT and will continue to empower these networks to transform our lives. Globally, estimates put the IoT industry at producing 24.1 billion devices by 2030 generating $1.5 trillion in annual revenue.
About the IoTC
The IoTC describes itself as “the premier business development association for the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem.” As a leading authority on the IoT, the organization can bring together entities big and small to help advance IoT developments. There are five main verticals the IoTC is focusing on:
- Automobiles
- Cities
- Connected homes
- Retail
- Wearables
As we can see, there is a wide range of applications for the IoT. This is why it is important to consolidate and organize efforts and work through collaborative efforts. To accompany the five verticals members of the IoTC focus on, the organization has three main goals its members continue to aim for as a whole:
- Partnerships- The wireless industry continues to trend towards collaboration and this includes knowledge. We’ve seen plenty of examples in 5G where more and more companies are finding value in Open RAN networks which allow the best solution to work interchangeably with different brands. By collaborating, the IoT can come together quicker, better, and at a lower cost. Partnerships also help spark diversity in solutions by providing avenues for larger and small entities to work together. Both public and private entities can collaborate across numerous sectors to provide the very best solutions for the IoT.
- Knowledge Sharing- Because partnerships are so important and common within the industry, it is important to share information and data among each other to better advance the technology. The IoTC encourages its members to share case studies, research, testing, best industry practices, etc., to help educate both vendors and customers through the best possible information available.
- The Adoption of IoT- Like any new technology, it can take some time for consumers to adopt it. There are many different uses for IoT but none of them are useful if they aren’t being embraced. This is why the IoTC pushes for the adoption of IoT devices. Along with education, the IoTC continues to encourage its members to overcome resistance and grow IoT throughout market segments for widespread adoption.
From creating committees built to overcome obstacles the IoT may face to hosting networking opportunities, the IoTC helps advance the IoT in numerous ways. The organization is an industry leader and demonstrates its expertise by being a voice at events, in the press, and by teaching groups about the IoT.
Membership for the IoTC
Being a member of the IoTC shows a commitment to advance IoT devices, infrastructure, technology, etc. The beauty of its membership is that individuals and entities that participate can gain leading information about the IoT and opportunities that are not available to non-members. There are three different levels in which prospective members can apply, including Basic, Individual, and Business. Annual membership fees range from $250 to $5,000 depending on which level of membership you pursue. Members range from television and media giants such as ABC and Fox to major wireless names including Ericsson, LG, and T-Mobile. There are many other companies big and small in a range of industries including Bank of America, GM, Whirlpool, and plenty more. The IoTC is involved with a variety of industry conventions thanks to its partnerships with the Internet of Things World, we.CONECT Global Leaders, Future of Privacy Forum, TMCnet.com, IoT Evolution Expo, Security of Things World USA, GSMA, Informa Connect, and Informa Tech.
How 5G Powers the IoT
Enabling a variety of devices to communicate machine to machine (M2M) wirelessly is no easy task. We are starting to see the beginnings of both IoT devices and 5G but seeing as the IoT is often credited to beginning in 1999, it’s easy to see that wireless communication has had to come a long way to make IoT into a reality. And the exciting part is that there is still so much more that will come to life! Digital assistants, smartwatches, automated vehicles, etc. are all becoming possible because 5G is providing the right amount of speed to allow M2M communication. On top of its great speed, 5G has lower latency than previous generations which means that machines can communicate in real-time and perform much more complex functions.
Major wireless carriers are continuing to build their 5G networks which will play a role in how soon more IoT functions will become available. There are three distinct ranges of 5G spectrum including low-band, mid-band, and high-band (mmWave). The lower the band, the farther a signal input will travel but the lower the overall speed of the connection and vice versa. mmWave is the band of 5G many are looking to power the IoT because it will have the power to surpass modern download speeds of both wired and wireless connections.
With an inability to travel well or even penetrate walls, it may be a while before Americans fully receive the full speed of the fifth generation of wireless due to the infrastructure required to power it. Luckily, with innovative takes such as the 5G cloud-native network being built by DISH Wireless in Las Vegas, Nevada, the push to deploy 5G networks is at an all-time high. Americans will soon begin to see new and exciting ways we connect and communicate with each other and the world around us.