By 2027, global 5G IoT roaming connections will reach 142 million

A study conducted by Juniper Research reveals promising growth prospects for 5G IoT roaming connections.

The report predicts that the number of global 5G IoT roaming connections will increase significantly, from 15 million in 2023 to 142 million in 2027, accounting for more than 27% of all 5G roaming connections in four years.

This growth will be driven by the expansion of standalone 5G deployments, particularly in Western Europe, and the adoption of value-added services and advanced analytics tools to manage revenue leakage.

Elisha Sudlow-Poole, author of the report, commented: “To further capitalise on the growth of 5G IoT roaming in Western Europe, operators must develop roaming agreements that leverage standalone 5G networks to improve network performance for roaming connections and provide the same level of service when roaming as they do on their home networks.”

Standalone networks leverage a next-generation network core and provide improved network capabilities over non-standalone 5G networks, resulting in higher network speeds and lower latency for 5G IoT roaming connections. Improved network performance enhances the value proposition of roaming agreements, encouraging IoT users to adopt roaming business models.

The study identifies Western Europe as a key market for 5G IoT roaming connections, with 21% of global connections expected to be in the region in 2027.

Western Europe accounts for only five percent of the world’s population. The report attributes this growth to the region’s operators’ aggressive efforts to roll out 5G standalone networks. These initiatives have encouraged IoT users to adopt roaming agreements, driving the growth of IoT roaming connections.

The importance of value-added services

In addition to standalone specific roaming agreements, the report also highlights the importance of implementing value-added services and advanced analytics tools to manage revenue leakage.

Roaming analytics tools powered by artificial intelligence can help operators efficiently analyze the large amounts of roaming data generated by 5G roaming connections in real time. The report emphasizes that integrating these tools directly into the platform can maximize the value proposition of network operators and enable rapid coordination of clearing for stakeholders.

The study anticipates that certain key verticals, such as autonomous vehicles, will particularly benefit from these advanced roaming solutions as they are data-centric. The implementation of roaming analytics and value-added services will play a vital role in meeting the specific needs of these verticals and ensuring a seamless roaming experience.

As the world becomes increasingly connected, developing a strong 5G IoT roaming strategy is critical to unlocking the full potential of the IoT ecosystem.