Cellular IoT and Low-power Wide-area Network (LPWAN) Modules Growth Opportunities

Cellular and Proprietary LPWAN Network Expansion, Strategic Mergers and Acquisitions, and Supply Chain Recovery are Fueling IoT Modules Market Growth

Leading IoT module manufacturers' innovative business models, industry convergence between cellular IoT and low-power wide-area network (LPWAN), and the emergence of innovative technologies, such as non-terrestrial networks (NTN) and 5G-based hardware, are strategic imperatives transforming the global cellular IoT and LPWAN module market.

New use-cases, such as healthcare, connected and autonomous cars, wearables, metaverse and immersive experiences, manufacturing, and smart mobility are gaining traction, resulting in the increasing demand for low-cost and low-power consumption IoT connectivity and modules.

While NB-IoT module shipment is higher in Asia-Pacific, with China concentrating the market with domestic companies, such as Quectel, Fibocom, and SUNSEA, LTE-M is growing rapidly in North America. In the western hemisphere, proprietary LPWAN, such as LoRaWAN® and Sigfox, is gaining traction, while new protocols, including Amazon Sidewalk and Wi-SUN, are emerging slowly. Finally, 5G is anticipated to accelerate its expansion in 2024 with network rollouts, cost reductions, and the commercial launch of 5G RedCap.

Supply chains interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the supply of IoT chipsets and modules in 2020 and 2021, resulting in a device shortage and elevated costs. In 2022, the market started to recover, but it grew less than industry expectations. However, from 2022 to 2026, it is expected to improve with a 19.3% compound annual growth rate (CAGR).

This Frost & Sullivan study analyzes the global cellular and LPWAN module market in terms of module shipment, with the forecast period running from 2023 to 2026. The study also estimates total module shipment by type of technology and the cellular IoT and LPWAN share for 2022.

Growth opportunities include:

• 5G and LTE-M modules for wearables, healthcare, and remote monitoring
• LoRaWAN for smart metering (gas, water, and electricity)
• 5G for cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X)
• NB-IoT and satellite connectivity for agribusinesses
• Sigfox for asset tracking and supply chain