Understanding Massive IoT: concepts, technology, application, and more

The IoT market size is projected to grow exponentially, reaching a staggering US$1.6 trillion by 2029, driven by the widespread adoption of AI machine learning, edge computing, and Massive IoT solutions.

The era of Massive IoT is here, poised to transform industries by connecting billions of low-power, cost-effective devices. 

This guide explores the fundamental technologies that underpin this revolution, including Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWANs) like LTE-M and NB-IoT, cellular connectivity, and embedded SIM technologies like eSIM and iSIM. 

Understanding these technologies is paramount for organizations seeking to connect vast arrays of sensors and devices across diverse geographical areas.

However, successfully deploying Massive IoT at scale requires addressing significant challenges, including managing vast device networks, ensuring robust security, and maintaining reliable connectivity across diverse geographies.

This guide addresses key considerations such as handling high data traffic, ensuring data security and privacy, and maintaining reliable connectivity. 

As a trusted global connectivity partner, BICS offers comprehensive IoT solutions designed to navigate these complexities, providing the infrastructure and expertise necessary to successfully deploy, manage, and scale your Massive IoT initiatives on a global scale.

Massive IoT, also known as massive Machine-Type Communications (mMTC) in the context of 5G, refers to the connection of many battery-driven devices that typically operate unattended, possess low complexity, are less latency sensitive, and transmit data at a low cost via cellular networks.

These devices, often sensors, are designed to be low-cost and energy-efficient. They handle small data volumes that are usually infrequently reported to the cloud.

The essence of Massive IoT lies in its ability to achieve scalability and versatility, enabling communication among billions of devices, objects, and machines.

These devices generally have long battery life and low throughput speeds, making them ideal for deployment across extensive geographical areas. 

The data collected provides insights that can solve complex problems and revolutionize business practices.

Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) are essential for enabling Massive IoT deployments.

LPWANs are wireless communication technologies designed to provide long-range connectivity with minimal power consumption. They allow devices to operate for years on a single battery.

Two primary LPWAN technologies are:

• LTE-M: These are optimized for IoT devices, offering a balance of bandwidth, power efficiency, and mobility.
• NB-IoT: Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) is a low-bandwidth technology designed for stationary devices requiring deep coverage and long battery life 

Massive IoT differs from standard IoT primarily in scale and the nature of the connected devices.

• Scale: Massive IoT involves connecting devices on a massive scale, both in terms of the number of devices and the amount of data collected. Standard IoT can encompass a broader range of applications with varying scales.
• Device characteristics: Massive IoT typically utilizes low-cost, low-complexity devices with long battery life and low power consumption. These devices are designed for the infrequent transmission of small data volumes, whereas standard IoT devices can have a broader range of capabilities and power requirements.
• Data handling: Massive IoT often relies on cloud and edge computing, big data analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI) to process and extract value from the vast amounts of data generated by numerous devices.
• Transmission frequency: Massive IoT is characterized by infrequent transmissions, whereas standard IoT applications might require more regular or continuous data exchange.

The advent of 5G technology is poised to further accelerate the growth and capabilities of Massive IoT. Massive IoT applications are already running on 4G networks, which offer significant advantages. 

Here are the key aspects of 5G Massive IoT:

• Increased capacity and density: 5G supports an incredibly high density of connected devices, i.e, up to one million devices per square kilometer, significantly exceeding the capacity of 4G LTE. This is a fundamental requirement for the massive scale of IoT deployments.
• Lower latency: Massive IoT generally has less stringent latency requirements than Critical IoT. 5G’s ultra-low latency capabilities can still benefit specific applications requiring more real-time responsiveness.
  
• Greater speed and bandwidth: Massive IoT devices typically transmit small amounts of data. However, 5G’s increased speed and bandwidth can facilitate faster network access and potentially support future applications with slightly higher data demands.
• Cost-effective alternatives: The rising popularity of NB-IoT and LTE-M, supported by 5G core networks, provides cost-effective alternatives to traditional 4G/LTE for many Massive IoT use cases.
• RedCap features: Recent RedCap (Reduced Capability) features in 5G are specifically designed to optimize 5G for IoT devices, balancing performance and power consumption. 

Ericsson predicts that by 2025, more than 50% of all cellular IoT connections will be Massive IoT connections, highlighting the transformative impact of 5G and related technologies.

Traditional physical SIM cards are evolving to meet the demands of the increasingly connected world. 

eSIM (embedded SIM) and iSIM (integrated SIM) technologies simplify the deployment and management of Massive IoT devices.

Embedded SIMs are built directly into the device, eliminating the need for a physical SIM card and tray. 

This saves valuable space, allowing for design innovations like larger batteries or more compact wearables. Due to fewer openings in the device, eSIMs also reduce the risk of dust or water damage.

For IoT deployments, eSIMs are managed centrally by fleet managers or service providers, who control carrier changes via a dedicated platform. This approach ensures seamless connectivity and operational efficiency.

Key Advantages:

• Global connectivity with flexibility: Combining global connectivity with local SIM profiles enables hassle-free international deployments, simplifying operations while maintaining adaptability.
• No connectivity lock-in: eSIM eliminates dependence on a single connectivity provider, offering flexibility and serving as an “insurance model” to safeguard against unexpected service disruptions.
• Diverse integration options: Businesses can either bring their own Subscription Management Data Preparation (SM-DP) and Subscription Management Secure Routing (SR) solutions or opt for pre-integrated options for a streamlined onboarding process.

Consumer eSIMs provide end-users with direct control over their network selection. Users can activate and switch carriers based on their needs, typically through QR code scanning or an app interface.

Key Advantages:

• Seamless digital experience: The process of activating a mobile subscription is fully digitized, allowing users to effortlessly switch networks by scanning a QR code or making a few clicks in an application.
  
• Ideal for travelers: Travel eSIMs offer flexible data packages designed specifically for global connectivity, catering to frequent travelers who require reliable mobile access in different countries.
  
• Embedded global connectivity: Consumer devices can integrate default global profiles, ensuring instant connectivity upon activation in any market. This feature provides convenience and reliability for manufacturers and end-users alike.

As industries scale up their IoT strategies, eSIM technology is emerging as a key enabler, especially for global, high-volume deployments.

Here’s how eSIM supports massive IoT rollouts across borders, networks, and devices:

• Embedded SIM- in factory: eSIMs are embedded during manufacturing, enabling a single global hardware configuration. This simplifies logistics, reduces costs, and supports streamlined device production for large-scale deployments.
  
• Simple global deployment: With a worldwide bootstrap profile, devices gain instant out-of-the-box connectivity anywhere. This ensures seamless onboarding without manual SIM provisioning or region-specific variants, which is crucial for fast-moving industries like automotive, logistics, and smart city infrastructure.
  
• Flexibility with no lock-in: eSIMs allow remote provisioning of local operational profiles, giving enterprises freedom to choose or switch network providers based on performance, regulation, or cost without physically touching the device. This dynamic adaptability is essential for future-proofing IoT investments.

iSIM, or Integrated SIM, is the next evolution of SIM technology. Unlike traditional or even embedded SIMs (eSIM), iSIM is miniaturized and built directly into the System on a Chip (SoC) of the device. This means the SIM functionality becomes part of the device’s operating system, saving space, reducing costs, and enhancing security.

Because it occupies zero additional space, iSIM is ideal for ultra-compact IoT devices like wearables, asset trackers, and industrial sensors. It also simplifies manufacturing and logistics, i.e, devices can be deployed globally with a unified hardware configuration and instantly connect to a mobile network upon activation.

iSIM enables remote provisioning, lifecycle management, and over-the-air updates—just like eSIM—but with even deeper integration, making it a powerful enabler of scalable, cost-effective, and secure Massive IoT deployments.

These embedded SIM technologies offer numerous advantages for various stakeholders:

• Simplified manufacturing and logistics: Manufacturers no longer need to produce multiple device variants for different network operators, as devices with eSIMs/iSIMs can connect to any compatible network.
• Easier remote management: Service providers can remotely update device network profiles over the air, eliminating costly and time-consuming physical interventions to replace SIM cards at the end of mobile network operator (MNO) contracts.
• Streamlined installation: Devices with embedded SIMs can automatically select the optimal MNO network at the deployment site, simplifying the installation process and reducing the need for manual configuration and testing..
• Instant connectivity: eSIMs and iSIMs, coupled with instant activation services, provide immediate connectivity to new services, enhancing the customer experience.
• Flexibility and scalability: Virtual SIM cards enabled by eSIM/iSIM offer greater flexibility in managing connectivity and allow for scaling deployments up or down without the logistical complexities of physical SIM cards.

The number of eSIM-capable devices worldwide is projected to reach 14 billion by 2030, underscoring the significance of this technology in the future of IoT.

The key differences between Massive IoT and Critical IoT lie in their requirements and applications:

Massive IoT requires essential scalability to connect potentially millions of devices, while Critical IoT has limited IoT scalability needs.

Low latency is crucial for critical IoT applications like traffic safety and remote surgery. 

Massive IoT is generally characterized by infrequent transmissions where low latency is not a primary concern.

Massive IoT typically involves small data volumes with infrequent transmissions, such as location or temperature updates a few times a day.

Critical IoT often requires transmitting more data at regular or even constant intervals.

Critical IoT applications have stringent availability, delay, and reliability requirements, as failures can lead to significant issues. 

While security is crucial for both, the emphasis on uninterrupted, real-time communication is more pronounced in critical IoT. 

Examples of critical IoT include traffic safety, automated vehicles, industrial applications, and remote surgical operations.

Massive IoT use cases include wearables, smart buildings, smart metering, transport logistics, fleet management, industrial monitoring, and agriculture. 

Critical IoT is applied in areas requiring time-sensitive information and precise positioning, such as traffic safety and control, managing power systems, and industrial control of robots.

Massive IoT is transforming various industries, enabling new applications and business models. Here are some prominent applications:

Embedding connectivity at the factory level is essential for Massive IoT deployments. This allows devices to connect to the network as soon as they are turned on, regardless of their location. 

Instant initial connectivity via a bootstrap profile is essential for configuring a device when it is turned on. 

It is also important to have flexibility to support the connected applications. Customers need the flexibility to change providers according to their location for commercial optimization. 

Achieving fully global connectivity efficiently and without commercial or technical constraints is necessary. 

For Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), embedding connectivity directly into hardware during the factory stage is becoming crucial. 

This approach is essential to meet the market forecast of massive deployments involving millions of connected devices. 

eSIM technology is critical in enabling this seamless connectivity through various profiles.

• Bootstrap profile: For OEMs, instant initial connectivity via a bootstrap profile is essential for the configuration of a device the moment it is turned on, regardless of its location worldwide. The bootstrap profile allows the device to connect to a network initially, enabling it to download and activate its intended operational profile. This eliminates the need for manual provisioning or physical SIM card insertion at the point of deployment.
• Fallback profile: OEMs require the assurance of continuous connectivity. A fallback profile provides a backup connectivity option if the primary operational profile encounters issues or loses connection. This ensures greater reliability and reduces potential downtime for the connected devices, which is particularly important for critical IoT applications.
• Operational profile: The operational profile is the final SIM profile the device will use for its intended purpose and network. OEMs need the flexibility to change providers according to their location for commercial optimization. Eventually, eSIM technology allows for the remote provisioning and managing of these operational profiles, meaning that the network provider can be changed over-the-air without physically accessing the device. 

Massive IoT offers easy connectivity integration into industrial devices in the factory, enabling remote control, predictive maintenance, and remote monitoring of production processes. 

Embedding connectivity during manufacturing allows devices to be instantly connected wherever they are used globally. 

Predictive maintenance uses sensor data to anticipate equipment breakdowns, allowing for proactive servicing and minimizing downtime. 

Monitoring the location and status of assets and even employees within manufacturing facilities enhances operational efficiency and safety.

With the UN projecting the global population to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, agricultural output must increase by 69% to meet food demand. This makes efficiency and sustainability in farming more critical than ever.

Massive IoT transforms agriculture by enabling precision agriculture through connected sensors and devices. These solutions monitor soil moisture, crop health, weather conditions, and livestock behavior in real-time, empowering farmers to make data-driven decisions.

For example, real-time monitoring systems alert farmers about water levels, feed consumption, and hygiene conditions, aiding in quick interventions, optimizing resource use, and improving yield quality.

Farmers can track crops, storage bins, and livestock remotely using handheld devices, eliminating manual checks and saving valuable time. These IoT-driven insights reduce operational costs and lead to more sustainable and profitable farming practices.

According to MarketsandMarkets, the precision agriculture market is expected to reach $12.9 billion by 2027, highlighting the sector’s rapid adoption of Massive IoT technologies.

Remote patient monitoring, asset tracking, and smart drug dispensing are some of the Massive IoT applications in healthcare. 

A study by ResearchAndMarkets.com estimates the global IoT healthcare market size to reach $254.2 billion by 2026.

Massive IoT enables real-time tracking of goods, fleet management, and predictive maintenance of vehicles.

 According to a report by Statista, the global connected car market is expected to reach $67 billion in 2025.

In smart cities, Massive IoT is integral in managing urban infrastructure, from traffic control and parking management to waste management and public lighting. 

Massive IoT is the backbone of smart city initiatives, enabling smart lighting, waste management, and traffic monitoring applications. According to a forecast, smart city spending will reach $410 billion by 2027.

Cloud platforms that enable real-time updates and remote management of connected devices contribute significantly to cost savings. 

Reduced need for manual intervention, optimized resource utilization, predictive maintenance, and minimized costly equipment failures also contribute to lower operational expenses.

Automation and analytics software that manage data streams across multiple devices within a single system or platform lead to significant efficiency gains. 

Optimized processes, improved decision-making based on real-time data, and enhanced resource allocation contribute to increased productivity and operational efficiency across various industries.

Massive IoT enables the creation of new revenue streams by monetizing the vast amounts of data generated by connected devices through novel products and services. 

Data analysis insights can be offered as value-added services, leading to new business models and revenue generation opportunities.

Beyond these direct drivers, Massive IoT can transform how businesses effectively deliver products and services, enhance the customer experience, foster innovation, and generate entirely new business models.

You need a reputed company that can provide a wide range of global connectivity and communication services for proper implementation. 

BICS promises the same and more with its comprehensive IoT connectivity solution designed for large-scale deployments, ensuring seamless, secure, and cost-effective global operations.

Despite its immense potential, the widespread implementation of Massive IoT presents several challenges that need to be addressed.

As the number of connected devices proliferates, the volume of data generated increases exponentially, posing a significant challenge for data management, storage, processing, and network capacity. 

Businesses need systems capable of handling these massive data streams effectively on a global scale, including the ability to scale resources up or down as needed.

Data security is a paramount concern for companies deploying Massive IoT technologies. Robust solutions for device authentication, data encryption, and privacy protection are essential to safeguard sensitive information and prevent unauthorized access. 

Security considerations should be integrated early in the design process rather than being added as an afterthought. Compliance with data privacy regulations like GDPR, CCPA, and LGPD is also crucial.

Managing the sheer number of devices and configurations involved in large-scale Massive IoT deployments can be complex. 

Operations teams face significant challenges in ensuring seamless interoperability between diverse devices and platforms and simplifying device lifecycle management, from provisioning to decommissioning.

Ensuring reliable and consistent connectivity for potentially billions of devices across diverse geographical locations and environments. 

While LPWAN technologies address the low-power, wide-area requirements of many Massive IoT applications, different use cases may have varying bandwidth, latency, and coverage connectivity needs.

Network operators face the challenge of upgrading and expanding their infrastructure to meet the growing demand for IoT connectivity.

Massive IoT represents a significant step forward in the evolution of the Internet of Things. Connecting millions of devices cost-effectively and scalably unlocks new possibilities across various industries, from agriculture and healthcare to transportation and smart cities. 

While challenges remain, the potential benefits of Massive IoT are undeniable. As businesses and organizations embrace this technology, they can unlock new levels of efficiency, innovation, and growth, paving the way for a more connected and intelligent future.