A recent Frost & Sullivan report predicts that the IoT and 5G will drive the electronic test and measurement (T&M) sector upward. According to their analysis, the market could reach $18.94 billion by 2025, despite COVID-19-related losses. As 5G drives IoT adoption, the IoT will, in turn, increase the demand for electronic T&M equipment.
This trend isn’t necessarily a new phenomenon, nor does it come as much of a surprise. Naturally, as companies produce more IoT devices, they need additional tools to test them. However, IoT and T&M are likely on the verge of unprecedented growth, thanks to 5G’s impact on IoT technology.
5G’s Impact on IoT Will Lead to New Devices
As 5G networks continue to roll out, it will lead to new IoT industry opportunities. 5G can theoretically support up to 1 million devices per square mile, compared to 6,500 with 4G. When bandwidth is less of an issue, users will buy more IoT devices, driving up demand.
Lofty promises about 5G also instill certain expectations in users, driving demand for quality and quantity. As a result, manufacturers have to ensure their IoT devices meet rigorous testing standards as they ramp up production. They’ll need new testing and measuring equipment to do so.
5G’s impact on IoT will affect more than the number of devices users buy. IoT gadgets can transfer more data with higher speeds and lower latencies, enabling wireless processes that were previously impossible or at least impractical. As IoT manufacturers create items that take advantage of these possibilities, they’ll need T&M tools to ensure these new processes work.
Smart City Growth Demands More T&M
Any discussion about the future of IoT and 5G would be remiss without mentioning smart cities. As 5G networks allow for increased IoT connectivity, cities will become smarter, integrating more connected infrastructure. Smart cities will lead to new IoT applications that require further testing and measurement processes.
Experts expect smart cities to enable vehicle-to-everything (V2X) infrastructure, where cars communicate with roadside sensors and other IoT technologies. This advance will make self-driving cars more viable and improve traffic, but it must work almost flawlessly. Any mistakes in connectivity could lead to traffic accidents, so better testing technologies are a necessity.
Widespread connected infrastructure also presents new security demands. The Department of Homeland Security has established a program for improving smart city security, which will help drive electronic T&M. Developments in these standards will lead to new testing technologies to ensure smart city infrastructure remains safe.
Electronic T&M Growth Paves the Way for Improved IoT Applications
The growth of the electronic T&M market doesn’t go just one way. IoT and 5G growth drive the electronic T&M industry, and T&M advancements will grow the IoT. With improved testing capabilities, IoT manufacturers will be able to produce higher-quality, cutting-edge devices.
Manufacturers are eager to implement IoT devices, but vendors’ ability to deliver fall short of these expectations. With better T&M technology, IoT companies can ensure their new products meet clients’ high expectations. By embracing the rise in electronic T&M, IoT vendors can finally meet the demands of manufacturers.
Manufacturers aren’t the only ones that will appreciate the new IoT possibilities that emerge with improved testing. As many as 44% of American consumers are “very concerned” about their privacy with smart home devices. With new T&M tech enabling further testing, IoT vendors can ensure users of their safety, helping promote sales.
The Growth of IoT and Electronic T&M Come Hand-in-Hand
The IoT market couldn’t grow without the assurance that electronic testing and measuring provide. Similarly, the electronic T&M sector wouldn’t have nearly the same potential for growth without the IoT and 5G popularity. Each industry’s growth depends, at least to some extent, on the other.
As the IoT grows, so will electronic T&M, and vice versa. With the world becoming increasingly tech-centric, the two sectors will fuel each other, leading to compounding growth. In the next few years, both will shape the world.
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