A new analysis highlights significant expansion within the Internet of Things (IoT) sector, projecting robust growth in the deployment of devices leveraging cellular and Low-Power Wide-Area (LPWA) network technologies. According to the report, “Cellular and LPWA IoT Device Ecosystems – 9th Edition,” recently added to the offering of ResearchAndMarkets.com on June 25, 2025, the market is set for substantial increases in device shipments over the coming years.
The study estimates that by the close of 2024, approximately 4.3 billion devices were already connected to wide area networks utilizing either cellular or LPWA technologies, underscoring the widespread adoption of these connectivity solutions across various industries and applications.
Analyzing the Growth Trajectory in Cellular IoT
The report provides detailed figures on the trajectory of cellular IoT module shipments, a key indicator of market activity. In 2024, global cellular IoT module shipments reached a substantial 514 million units. Looking ahead, the research forecasts a significant surge, anticipating these shipments to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.0 percent. This growth trajectory is expected to culminate in cellular IoT module shipments totaling 866 million units by the year 2029, reflecting sustained demand and expansion in cellular-based IoT deployments.
At the ecosystem level, the 3GPP family of cellular technologies continues to support the largest share of the market. The report estimates a global cellular IoT subscriber base of 3.8 billion at the end of 2024, demonstrating the established dominance of cellular standards like LTE-M and NB-IoT for high-reliability and wide-coverage IoT applications.
LPWA Ecosystems: A Diverse and Growing Landscape
Beyond traditional cellular, the LPWA segment is characterized by a diverse array of technologies catering to low-power, long-range communication needs, often with lower data requirements. The report examines several key players and emerging ecosystems within this space.
Sigfox, a prominent LPWA technology, is forecasted to experience particularly strong growth. Shipments of Sigfox devices are predicted to grow at a striking CAGR of 38.8 percent, increasing from 2.2 million units in 2024 to an estimated 11.4 million units by 2029. This indicates significant anticipated uptake for Sigfox in specific low-power, long-range use cases.
The study also covers other emerging LPWA ecosystems, including IEEE 802.15.4, Wirepas Mesh, Mioty, and DECT-2020 NR (NR+). Among these, IEEE 802.15.4 is noted for its most widespread adoption, underpinning various mesh and star network configurations in diverse applications like smart homes, building automation, and industrial monitoring.
Wirepas Mesh has established a significant footprint, with an installed base reaching 12 million units in early 2025. Mioty, another technology designed for massive IoT deployments requiring robust communication in challenging radio environments, has reached an installed base of 1 million units, according to the research.
While often deployed in private networks rather than public wide-area infrastructure, LoRa technology remains a crucial part of the LPWA landscape. The report states that cumulative shipments of LoRa end nodes had reached 410 million by the beginning of 2025, highlighting its substantial presence, particularly in private IoT deployments for industrial, agricultural, and smart city applications where dedicated network control is desired.
Market Dynamics and Future Outlook
The forecast of 866 million cellular IoT module shipments by 2029 underscores a sustained period of expansion for the market. This growth is being driven by the increasing adoption of IoT across numerous sectors, from industrial automation and logistics to smart utilities and consumer electronics. The co-existence and growth of both cellular (3GPP family) and diverse LPWA technologies like Sigfox, LoRa, IEEE 802.15.4, Wirepas Mesh, and Mioty illustrate the varied requirements of IoT applications and the need for tailored connectivity solutions.
The report’s findings suggest that while cellular technologies continue to form the backbone of the largest connected ecosystem, specialized LPWA solutions are finding significant niches and experiencing rapid growth in their respective segments. The diversity of technologies covered reflects an evolving market landscape focused on optimizing connectivity for power consumption, range, data rate, and network architecture depending on the specific IoT use case.
As industries continue their digital transformation journeys, the demand for connected devices leveraging these wide-area network technologies is expected to remain strong, positioning the market for continued expansion towards the forecast shipment levels in 2029.
