Cellular M2M forecasts: unlocking growth - Cellular M2M connections forecast to reach 1 billion by 2020

GSMA Intelligence has recently published a comprehensive forecast of the global cellular M2M market, based on extensive conversations with industry players and an in-depth analysis of current and future trends. Our coverage of the M2M market focuses on cellular M2M connectivity and excludes computing devices in consumer electronics such as smartphones, e-readers, tablets, as well as other types of M2M connection technologies that support the wider universe of the Internet of Things (IoT).

Our research shows that at the current rate of trajectory, global cellular M2M connections will reach close to one billion by 2020, growing at 25% per year (CAGR) over the period 2015 to 2020. However, in our recent report Cellular M2M forecasts and assumptions we have also hypothesised that upside forecast scenarios could emerge if a number of the current growth inhibitors are addressed by both the industry players and governments. This could potentially lead to a faster growth rate of greater than 40% per annum if a range of favourable market conditions are achieved. The best case upside forecast scenario results in the realisation of a potential two billion cellular M2M connections globally by 2020.