SI New World › Band Atlas › Network Pulse Network Pulse: global IoT data Checked 2026-09-30
Connected IoT devices are expected to reach 21.1 billion in 2025, including 4.2 billion cellular IoT connections (+11%). Cellular IoT module shipments grew 11% in Q2 2026 , and Cat.1 bis passed half of them for the first time; satellite IoT has about 13.6 million active connections. China’s three big operators hold about 70% of cellular IoT connections. Only figures from authoritative publishers are shown, with no extrapolation; every card gives its cut-off date and next update.1 2 6 7
Connected IoT devices, worldwide
21.1 billionestimate
+2.6 billion vs 2024-12
18.5 billion 2024 21.1 billion 2025e 39 billion 2030 over 50 billion 2035 Solid: measured · dashed: forecast 2025-12 · 21.1 billion
2025 is an estimate (+14%); 2035 means “over 50 billion”. Definitions of an IoT device differ, so published totals range from about 19 to 27 billion.1
As of 2025-12 · 1
All data and update schedule 2025-12 21.1 billion 1 2024-12 18.5 billion 1
IoT Analytics updates its annual estimate each autumn
Cellular IoT connections, worldwide
4.2 billion
2025-12 · 4.2 billion
Up 11%, about 32% of all mobile subscriptions; 6.5 billion expected by 2030. China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom hold about 2.95 billion between them.2
As of 2025-12 · 2
All data and update schedule Berg Insight updates in annual topic reports
Cellular IoT module shipments (year on year)
+11%
+1 pt vs 2025-09
2026-06 · +11%
In Q2 2026 Cat.1 bis passed half of all shipments for the first time; China and India supplied three-quarters of the growth.6
As of 2026-06 · 3 4 5 6
All data and update schedule 2026-06 +11% 6 2025-09 +10% 5 2025-06 +17% 4 2025-03 +16% 3
Counterpoint publishes quarterly; next: Q3 2026 data (usually December)
Satellite IoT connections, worldwide
13.6 million
2025-12 · 13.6 million
Active connections per ABI (+20.7%); Berg Insight counts differently: 5.8 million subscribers in 2024, 32.5 million expected by 2029. 3GPP NB-NTN is bringing satellite IoT into ordinary cellular modules.8
As of 2025-12 · 7
All data and update schedule Berg Insight updates in annual topic reports
Wi-Fi 32%Bluetooth 24%Cellular 22%Other 22%
Share of worldwide IoT connections by technology (IoT Analytics, October 2025). Cellular covers 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, LTE-M and NB-IoT.1 China Mobile 1480 million +5% China Telecom 746 million China Unicom 723 million Vodafone 234 million AT&T 160 million Bharti Airtel 69 million +115% Telefónica about 59 million KDDI about 58 million Verizon and Deutsche Telekom had about 62–69 million each; the top five operators manage 83% of all cellular IoT connections (IoT Analytics).2 1
All China Worldwide
5G subscriptions, worldwide
3.1 billion
2026-03 · 3.1 billion
162 million added in Q1; Ericsson’s site says “close to 3.3 billion”, a different cut-off, so both are shown.10
As of 2026-03 · 9
All data and update schedule Ericsson Mobility Report comes out in June and November; next in November 2026
Operators investing in RedCap
42
+8 vs 2025-09
2026-03 · 42
Across 27 countries and territories.14
As of 2026-03 · 11 12 13 14
All data and update schedule 2026-03 42 14 2025-09 34 13 2025-04 30 12 2025-03 26 11
GSA updates about twice a year; we check again in October 2026
Operators with commercial RedCap
14
+6 vs 2025-09
2026-03 · 14
17 RedCap modules and 7 end-user devices (September 2025); connections are in the tens of millions, with 100 million targeted for 2027.13
As of 2026-03 · 12 14
All data and update schedule 2026-03 14 14 2025-09 8 14 2025-04 6 12
GSA updates about twice a year; we check again in October 2026
Operators with commercial 5G SA
95
2026-04 · 95
392 operators have launched 5G.15
As of 2026-04 · 15
All data and update schedule GSA updates about twice a year; we check again in October 2026
Commercial 5G SA network-slicing offers
84
+19 vs 2025-12
2026-06 · 84
As of 2026-06 · 10
All data and update schedule Ericsson Mobility Report comes out in June and November; next in November 2026
Commercial Cat-M1 and NB-IoT networks
269
2025-11 · 269
129 LTE-M and 140 NB-IoT; AT&T’s NB-IoT shut in Q1 2025.17
As of 2025-11 · 16
All data and update schedule GSMA updates its list irregularly
2G/3G switch-offs (done, planned or under way)
313
2026-06 · 313
Across 89 countries.18
As of 2026-06 · 18
All data and update schedule GSA updates about twice a year; we check again in October 2026
Cat.1 bis share of cellular IoT module shipments
over 50%
2026-06 · over 50%
Close to half in Q2 and Q3 2025; past half for the first time in Q2 2026.5
As of 2026-06 · 6
All data and update schedule Counterpoint publishes quarterly; next: Q3 2026 data (usually December)
5G base stations, China
5.154 million
+52,000 vs 2026-06
2026-07 · 5.154 million
316,000 more than at end-202524
As of 2026-07 · 19 20 21 22 23 24
All data and update schedule 2026-07 5.154 million 24 2026-06 5.102 million 23 2026-05 5.053 million 22 2026-04 5.009 million 19 2025-12 4.838 million 21 2025-08 4.646 million 20 2025-04 4.439 million 19
MIIT publishes each month’s figures in the second half of the following month; next: January–August data (usually late September to early October)
5G mobile users, China
1.303 billion
+15 million vs 2026-06
2026-07 · 1.303 billion
98.75 million more than at end-2025; 70.5% of mobile users24
As of 2026-07 · 20 21 19 23 24
All data and update schedule 2026-07 1.303 billion 24 2026-06 1.288 billion 23 2026-04 1.262 billion 19 2025-12 1.204 billion 21 2025-08 1.154 billion 20
MIIT publishes each month’s figures in the second half of the following month; next: January–August data (usually late September to early October)
Mobile IoT terminals, China
2.993 billion
−1 million vs 2026-06
2026-07 · 2.993 billion
105 million more than at end-2025 (the three main operators)25
As of 2026-07 · 20 22 23 25
All data and update schedule 2026-07 2.993 billion 25 2026-06 2.994 billion 23 2026-05 2.98 billion 22 2025-08 2.872 billion 20
MIIT publishes each month’s figures in the second half of the following month; next: January–August data (usually late September to early October)
5G share of mobile base stations, China
39.1%
+0.1 pt vs 2026-05
2026-06 · 39.1%
As of 2026-06 · 20 21 19 22 23
All data and update schedule 2026-06 39.1% 23 2026-05 39% 22 2026-04 38.7% 19 2025-12 37.6% 21 2025-08 36.3% 20
MIIT publishes each month’s figures in the second half of the following month; next: January–August data (usually late September to early October)
5G RedCap base stations, China
2.064 million
2025-12 · 2.064 million
Earlier: China Mobile passed 730,000 in September 2025; China Telecom had about 600,000.26
As of 2025-12 · 21
All data and update schedule MIIT annual bulletin, published each January or February
Forecasts (for reference, not statistics)
Milestones Coming up 2028-06-30 Deutsche Telekom switches off 2G (Vodafone in September, O2 in the second half)30 2027-12 SK Telecom plans to end 3G31 2026-12 2G ends on all four French networks32 Already happened 2026-07 China’s 5G mobile users pass 1.3 billion (1.303 billion)24 2026-06 Commercial 5G SA slicing offers rise from 65 to 84 in six months10 2026-04 China passes 5 million 5G base stations (5.009 million)19 2026-03-31 docomo closes 3G, ending 3G in Japan; Orange starts switching off 2G in France the same day33 2026-03 Operators with commercial RedCap reach 14 (8 six months earlier)14 2025-12 China reaches 2.064 million 5G RedCap base stations21 2025-09 Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3 ship with 5G RedCap27 2025-03 AT&T shuts NB-IoT and moves customers to LTE-M17 When each publisher updates MIIT publishes each month’s figures in the second half of the following month; next: January–August data (usually late September to early October) MIIT annual bulletin, published each January or February GSA updates about twice a year; we check again in October 2026 Ericsson Mobility Report comes out in June and November; next in November 2026 GSMA updates its list irregularly Counterpoint publishes quarterly; next: Q3 2026 data (usually December) About this page Figures come from public releases by MIIT, GSA, GSMA, Ericsson, Counterpoint and others; MIIT figures carried by the media name the outlet. Nothing is interpolated or extrapolated: trend lines join published data points only, and hovering shows each value.
Sources
B Number of connected IoT devices: 18.5 billion in 2024, 21.1 billion expected in 2025, 39 billion by 2030; Wi-Fi 32%, Bluetooth 24%, cellular 22% IoT Analytics · 2025-10 B Cellular IoT connections reached 4.2 billion at end-2025 (+11%), 6.5 billion by 2030; operator ranking Berg Insight (via IoT M2M Council) · 2026-07-29 B Cellular IoT module shipments up 16% YoY in Q1 2025; 5G the fastest-growing (+37%) Counterpoint Research · 2025-06-12 C Q2 2025 module shipments +17% YoY; 5G reached an 8% share LinkedIn (quoting Counterpoint) · 2025-09 B Global cellular IoT module shipments up 10% YoY in Q3 2025; Cat-1 bis almost half of shipments Counterpoint Research · 2025-12-11 B Cellular IoT module shipments rise 11% YoY in Q2 2026; Cat 1 bis exceeds half for the first time Counterpoint Research · 2026-09-16 B Satellite IoT enters 2026 with NB-NTN: 13.6 million active connections in 2025 (+20.7%) ABI Research · 2026 B Satellite IoT subscribers passed 5.8 million in 2024, 32.5 million by 2029; Iridium leads with 2.0 million Berg Insight (via IoT M2M Council) · 2025-09-24 B 5G subscriptions passed 3.1 billion in Q1 2026 (162 million added) El Español · 2026-06-16 B Ericsson Mobility Report, June 2026 (5G close to 3.3 billion; 84 network-slicing offers, up from 65 in six months) Ericsson · 2026-06 B 5G RedCap, March 2025 (26 operators in 18 markets) GSA · 2025-03 B 5G RedCap, April 2025 (30 operators in 21 markets; 6 launches) GSA · 2025-04 B 5G RedCap, September 2025 (34 operators in 24 markets; 17 modules) GSA · 2025-09 B 5G RedCap – April 2026 (42 operators in 27 markets; 14 commercial launches) GSA · 2026-04 B Viewpoint: 5G RedCap – accelerating the next phase of cellular IoT GSA · 2026-04 B Mobile IoT network launches (Nov 2025) GSMA · 2025-11 B AT&T to discontinue NB-IoT, but T-Mobile and Verizon keep the faith Light Reading · 2024-11-21 B 2G and 3G Switch-Off – August 2026 GSA · 2026-08 B MIIT: 5G base stations pass 5 million at end-April 2026 (4.439 million a year earlier) IT Home (IT之家), MIIT data · 2026-05-26 B MIIT: Jan–Aug 2025 (4.646 million 5G base stations, 1.154 billion 5G users, 2.872 billion IoT terminals) Xinhua (新华社), via China Daily · 2025-09-23 B MIIT 2025 statistical bulletin: 4.838 million 5G base stations, 2.064 million RedCap base stations, 1.204 billion 5G users 36Kr (36氪), MIIT data · 2026-01-28 B MIIT: Jan–May 2026 (5.053 million 5G base stations, 39% of all) Gelonghui (格隆汇), MIIT data · 2026-06-26 B MIIT: H1 2026 (5.102 million 5G base stations, 1.288 billion 5G users, 2.994 billion IoT terminals) IT Home (IT之家), MIIT data · 2026-07-31 B MIIT: Jan–Jul 2026 telecom statistics (5G base stations 5.154 million) The Beijing News (新京报), MIIT data · 2026-08 B MIIT: 5G mobile users pass 1.3 billion; 2.993 billion mobile IoT terminals C114, via MIIT Weibao (工信微报) · 2026-08-28 B Where 5G RedCap stands in China (China Mobile >730,000 RedCap base stations; Omdia: 5.1 billion cellular IoT connections by 2030) C114 · 2025-10-09 B RedCap momentum: Apple Watch, eRedCap, Omdia forecast of ~1 billion connections by 2030 Private LTE & 5G · 2026 B RedCap module shipments by region (2029: China 31 million, US 13 million) ABI Research · 2024-08 B RedCap scaling to 100 million connections by 2027 Mobile World Live (GTI) · 2026 B After Telekom and Vodafone, o2 also switches off 2G in the second half of 2028 teltarif · 2026-06 B SKT to gradually end 3G by end-2027; KT preparing to halt new sign-ups 머니투데이 (MT) · 2026-08-20 A Switch-off of 2G and 3G mobile networks: operator timetable Arcep · 2026 A End of feature-phone site; 3G end dates: docomo 2026-03-31, SoftBank 2024-04-15, KDDI 2022-03-31 City of Yokohama · 2026-03-17 Spotted a gap or something out of date? Tell us, ideally with a source. We check the source automatically, then review it against our two-source rule.
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