The embeddedworld Conference & Expo 2026 in Nuremberg once again demonstrated why it remains the most influential global forum for the embedded systems sector. Bringing together more than 36,000 attendees (13% over 2025), the event sits at the intersection of semiconductors, connectivity technologies, embedded software, and system integration.
Among the conference tracks, I followed the IoT & Connectivity program closely, which stood out as particularly relevant to the future of machine-to-machine communications.
Across several sessions, industry experts from companies such as Ambient IoT Alliance, CCww, Wind River, Telit Cinterion, Thales, IDEMIA, and STMicroelectronics highlighted emerging trends reshaping IoT connectivity on cellular IoT, short-range, Wi-Fi, and long-range technologies.
This program agenda was relevant as it addressed the evolving challenges associated with IoT deployments that we have witnessed by enterprises and the public sector. According to Frost & Sullivan’s recently published report, “Inside the Minds of IoT Decision-Makers: Spending Priorities and Growth Opportunities”, based on the results of the 2025 IoT IT decision-makers (ITDM) survey, companies are struggling with:
- Ensuring security and data protection;
- Integrating and scaling up of IoT in smart solutions;
- Overcoming the lack of maturity to implement and manage IoT projects;
- Dealing with standards and interoperability.
During the event, companies showcased how their innovative solutions and collective efforts are tackling these difficulties, for example, through the harmonization of standards for the enablement of Ambient IoT, the elaboration of hybrid terrestrial-satellite connectivity strategies, the development of orchestration layers for the management of multi-network connectivity, or the introduction of security tools for remote SIM provisioning.
From a strategic standpoint, the sessions revealed three key themes shaping the future IoT connectivity landscape:
- Ambient and ultra-low-power IoT ecosystems
- Evolution of cellular IoT toward satellite and automotive applications
- Identity, provisioning, and security are becoming foundational infrastructure
Below is a synthesis of the most relevant sessions and their connections to announcements and exhibitor activities across the show floor.
Ambient IoT: Toward a Battery-Free Sensor Economy
One of the most forward-looking sessions in the track came from the Ambient IoT Alliance, which outlined a vision for pervasive sensing based on battery-less, energy-harvesting IoT devices.
The Ambient IoT concept focuses on ultra-low-power devices that harvest energy from ambient sources, such as radio waves, light, or vibration, eliminating the need for batteries while enabling massive sensor deployments. The alliance is working to harmonize multiple wireless standards, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular IoT technologies, under a common ecosystem framework.
From a market perspective, Ambient IoT could unlock several high-volume applications:
- Supply chain and logistics tracking
- Smart packaging and retail inventory
- Environmental monitoring
- Infrastructure health monitoring
At the exhibition, several companies highlighted enabling technologies aligned with this vision. Semiconductor providers like Semtech and ecosystem organizations such as the LoRa Alliance demonstrated ultra-low-power wireless architectures that could serve as the connectivity backbone for such devices.
Meanwhile, connectivity platform providers including Akenza.io and Digi International emphasized device-to-cloud orchestration platforms designed to manage massive sensor fleets, an operational requirement for Ambient IoT deployments.
Voice over NB-IoT and the Rise of Satellite IoT
A technically intriguing presentation explored the feasibility of Voice over NB-IoT operating over Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN). The session from Communications Consultants Worldwide examined how narrowband cellular IoT could extend into satellite connectivity.
NB-IoT is already widely deployed for applications requiring long battery life and deep indoor coverage. However, the introduction of satellite-based NTN connectivity expands its reach to remote and underserved regions.
The concept of voice over satellite NB-IoT could enable new use cases, including:
- Emergency messaging in remote locations
- Worker safety in mining or offshore operations
- Voice alerts for critical infrastructure monitoring
Across the exhibition floor, satellite-enabled IoT connectivity was increasingly visible. Companies such as Viasat, 1GLOBAL, and Deutsche Telekom IoT highlighted hybrid terrestrial-satellite connectivity strategies, suggesting that NTN integration will become a core component of the IoT connectivity stack over the coming decade. Last week, Viasat and Cubic³ demonstrated a voice-over NB-IoT solution for satellite voice calls on connected cars.
As stated in Frost & Sullivan’s study “Global Cellular IoT and Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) Market, Forecast to 2030”, the emergence of hybrid terrestrial networks and non-terrestrial networks (TN-NTNs) with NB-IoT technology in rural environments is enabling Oil &Gas and agriculture use cases such as pipeline monitoring, livestock tracking management, smart farming, and environmental monitoring.
IoT MVNO platforms such as emnify, Eseye, and Transatel are also positioning themselves as orchestration layers that manage multi-network connectivity across cellular and satellite domains.
These announcements and exhibitions confirm that the convergence of connectivity standards is giving rise to the network-of-networks trend.
5G C-V2X: Connectivity Driving the Software-Defined Vehicle
Automotive connectivity also received significant attention, particularly through a session on real-world 5G Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) deployments delivered by Wind River.
The 2025 IoT ITDM survey revealed that in the transportation and storage sector, OEMs are accelerating investments in software-defined vehicles (SDVs), supported by modern vehicle architectures. These vehicles depend on software, cloud integration, edge computing, and reliable connectivity as core elements of internal systems. IoT connectivity plays a critical role by enabling features such as over-the-air (OTA) software updates and real-time telematics, improving vehicle performance, safety, and the overall driving experience.
C-V2X technology allows vehicles to communicate with:
- Other vehicles (V2V)
- Road infrastructure (V2I)
- Pedestrians and devices (V2P)
- Cloud platforms (V2N)
The session highlighted how 5G C-V2X is evolving beyond pilot programs toward real-world deployments for safety applications, traffic optimization, and support for autonomous driving.
Connectivity vendors and platform providers at embedded world reinforced this momentum. Companies such as Telit Cinterion and Thales demonstrated automotive-grade cellular modules designed for telematics, fleet management, and vehicle connectivity.
Meanwhile, IoT connectivity providers, including A1 Digital and Deutsche Telekom IoT, are expanding global connectivity platforms specifically tailored to automotive OEMs.
The Frost & Sullivan ITDM survey also revealed that the most widely adopted connectivity types in transportation and storage are traditional cellular (63%) and cellular IoT LPWAN technologies (57%). Connected vehicle solutions typically utilize 4G for high-bandwidth applications, such as infotainment and telematics, while 5G is being introduced for mission-critical, low-latency use cases, including autonomous driving.
Cybersecurity Becomes the Foundation of IoT Connectivity
With billions of devices coming online, security is emerging as the most critical layer of the IoT ecosystem’s infrastructure. According to the Frost & Sullivan ITDM survey, 30% of IoT organizations perceive maintaining adequate security and data protection as a critical challenge.
Frost & Sullivan’s “Frost Radar™: Mobile IoT Connectivity Management Platforms, 2025” report highlights that the rise in cyberattacks and fraud is accelerating the adoption of a zero-trust approach and a multilayered security model to protect systems against unauthorized access and unusual behavior.
A session from Telit Cinterion explored the growing cybersecurity challenges associated with 5G IoT deployments, including device authentication, firmware integrity, and lifecycle management.
Security requirements are becoming even more stringent in Europe, with regulatory frameworks such as:
- Cyber Resilience Act (CRA)
- Secure software bill of materials (SBOM) requirements
- Mandatory vulnerability monitoring for IoT devices
Several exhibitors presented technologies addressing these challenges:
- Giesecke+Devrient and Thales demonstrated secure element and eSIM solutions designed for hardware-root-of-trust architectures.
- Kigen and Trasna showcased embedded SIM security platforms integrated directly into IoT chipsets.
- Valid presented secure provisioning technologies for large-scale IoT deployments.
Together, these innovations highlight how identity management and security are becoming integral components of connectivity platforms, rather than optional add-ons. Providers should continue to secure SIM provisioning, encrypt data at rest and in transit, and ensure compliance with standards such as ISO 27001, NIST, and GDPR.
eSIM for IoT: SGP.32 and the Path to Global Connectivity
Two sessions focused on the rapid evolution of the GSMA eSIM architecture for IoT, particularly the SGP.32 specification, which simplifies remote SIM provisioning for constrained IoT devices.
The “Frost Radar™: Mobile IoT Connectivity Management Platforms, 2025” report also points out that new GSMA eSIM standards (SGP.32 for IoT and SGP.22 for consumer applications) are disrupting the ecosystem. Providers are launching solutions that enable remote profile management and network carrier switching, and address compliance and logistical challenges for large-scale, global IoT deployments.
Presentations from Thales and IDEMIA emphasized how the new architecture eliminates several barriers that historically limited eSIM adoption in IoT:
- Reduced device complexity
- Lower memory requirements
- Simplified remote provisioning
- More flexible operator switching
Frost & Sullivan expects that a majority of future connected devices will adopt eSIM-first architectures, eliminating the need for physical SIM replacement while enabling dynamic connectivity management.
At the exhibition, several connectivity providers reinforced the growing momentum behind SGP.32:
- 1GLOBAL, Transatel, and emnify showcased cloud-based eSIM orchestration platforms.
- Eseye and A1 Digital presented global IoT connectivity services leveraging remote SIM provisioning.
- A notable example of SGP.32 adoption is the partnership between Thales and Brazilian payment provider Cielo, deploying the technology across about one million POS terminals. Using Thales’s SGP.32 eSIM platform, devices can remotely switch mobile operators and manage connectivity over-the-air.
- Another example of SGP.32 adoption is the collaboration between Giesecke+Devrient and Rivian for the upcoming R2 electric vehicle. The vehicle will integrate G+D’s automotive-grade eSIM and remote subscription management platform, based on the GSMA SGP.32 specification.
Together, these developments signal the transition toward fully software-defined connectivity models for IoT deployments.
LPWAN Innovation: LoRa, mioty, WM-Bus, and NB-IoT
Finally, a session from STMicroelectronics explored advances in Low-Power Wide Area Network technologies, including:
- LoRa
- Wireless M-Bus
- mioty
- NB-IoT
Rather than competing technologies, these protocols are increasingly being deployed in complementary roles depending on application requirements.
Technology and Typical Applications
- LoRa: Private industrial networks, smart metering, smart agriculture, smart lighting, environmental monitoring, and massive sensor deployments (high device density over wide areas).
- NB-IoT: Wide-area cellular IoT for utilities, smart parking, asset tracking, and connected appliances.
- mioty: Sensor networks for smart cities, logistics, and industrial monitoring.
- WM-Bus (Wireless M-Bus): Smart metering and energy management in Europe.
Frost & Sullivan expects that in 2030, there will be 2.6 billion massive Cellular IoT (5G RedCap, NB-IoT, and LTE-M) connections, and 1.0 billion non-licensed LPWAN (LoRaWAN, Sigfox, and others) connections.
The show floor reinforced the continued growth of the LoRa ecosystem. Companies such as Semtech and the LoRa Alliance demonstrated new LoRaWAN enhancements for industrial IoT deployments (e.g., the RP2-1.0.5 specification, which triples the highest data rate). At the same time, semiconductor vendors and module suppliers integrated multi-protocol connectivity into next-generation devices.
Low-power IoT architecture and energy-efficient connectivity were another key theme during the event. The Danish-based NeoCortec, a company that pioneered NeoMesh, a low-power wireless mesh network for IoT, unveiled NeoGW. This open-source, multiplatform gateway software enables seamless connectivity to cloud platforms, as well as a new network management application to control NeoMesh networks from a single platform.
NeoMesh also supports LoRa technology, combining long-range connectivity with an ultra-low-power mesh architecture. The integration of NeoMesh over LoRa modulation ensures scalability, reliability, and ultra-low power consumption, supporting thousands of devices.
Finally, major players announced the launch of next-generation products and technologies that are the essential links of a more connected, intelligent, and automated world.
Semtech unveiled a 5G RedCap modem that delivers connectivity across 5G RedCap, LTE, and public/private networks for industrial IoT use cases. The product is designed to remove barriers to integration, reduce complexity, and shorten certification delays. According to Frost & Sullivan’s “Global Cellular IoT and Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) Market, Forecast to 2030” the demand for low-latency and medium-bandwidth applications, such as industrial automation, wearables, vehicle telematics, and video surveillance, drives the exponential growth of 5G RedCap.
Mediatek exhibited chipset platforms, with IoT and advanced AI capabilities, for robotics, drones, intelligent assistance, home automation, industrial automation, and healthcare. Arm conducted demonstrations of edge AI experiences using AI-enabled edge devices such as robots, cameras, and industrial controllers that discover one another and coordinate in real time in production settings, as well as of multimodal AI experiences leveraging language models on embedded hardware.
These exhibitions are in line with the survey results as the most adopted technologies in IoT solutions by organizations encompass Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) (51%), cloud computing (50%), cybersecurity (46%), big data analytics (39%), 5G (37%), and others such as process automation, edge computing, blockchain, spatial computing, 5G RedCap, and digital twins.
Strategic Takeaways for the IoT Industry
From an analyst perspective, the IoT & Connectivity program at embedded world revealed a rapidly evolving landscape shaped by five strategic trends:
- Ultra-low-power sensing is emerging as the next frontier of IoT.
Ambient IoT could dramatically expand the scale of connected devices. - Satellite integration will extend cellular IoT to truly global coverage.
Hybrid terrestrial-NTN architectures are becoming a key differentiator. - Automotive connectivity is accelerating with 5G C-V2X.
Connected vehicles represent one of the highest-value IoT verticals. - Security and device identity are becoming non-negotiable requirements.
Hardware-based security and lifecycle management are now core capabilities. - eSIM and SGP.32 are enabling a software-defined connectivity model.
Connectivity management platforms are evolving into the control plane of the IoT ecosystem.
Conclusion
The embeddedworld Conference & Expo continues to serve as a barometer for the direction of embedded and IoT innovation. The 2026 IoT & Connectivity program demonstrated that the industry is entering a new phase, where connectivity is no longer simply about linking devices to networks, but about enabling scalable, secure, and globally orchestrated digital infrastructure.
As Ambient IoT, satellite connectivity, 5G automotive applications, and software-defined connectivity mature, the ecosystem of module vendors, connectivity providers, and platform operators will play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of connected solutions.
In short, as Frost & Sullivan’s study “Inside the Minds of IoT Decision-Makers: Spending Priorities and Growth Opportunities” concludes, IoT is no longer a standalone technology that connects devices and collects data, but an integral layer of digital transformation. A single technology does not define the future of IoT connectivity; rather, it is the convergence of multiple connectivity paradigms operating within an increasingly software-driven ecosystem.
