At Least One Billion M2M Connections Expected By 2020; Two Billion Milestone Achievable If Market Accelerators Are Successfully Deployed
Atlanta: Cellular machine-to-machine (M2M) communications will account for at least 10 per cent of the global mobile market by 2020, according to a new study by GSMA Intelligence, the research arm of the GSMA. It is forecast that cellular M2M will account for almost one billion (974 million) of the 10 billion total mobile connections expected by 2020 if the market develops at its current trajectory. However, the study highlights several factors that could stimulate further growth in the sector, potentially leading to as many as two billion cellular M2M connections by 2020 - double the current forecast. Cellular M2M accounts for about three per cent of global mobile connections today.
The new GSMA Intelligence study, Cellular M2M forecasts and assumptions: 2010-2020 , was published at the GSMA Mobile 360 Series-North America conference taking place this week in Atlanta. The study counts M2M connections that access mobile networks ( cellular M2M') and excludes consumer electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets and e-readers.
Mobile networks are the platform upon which the M2M industry is being built and mobile operators are at the forefront in shaping the new business models that are driving this exciting market forward, said Hyunmi Yang, Chief Strategy Officer at the GSMA. The study issued today points to strong growth in the M2M space over the next six years, but also highlights the measures that industry players and regulators can adopt to further accelerate market development.
To fully unlock the M2M market opportunity for both consumers and businesses, we need industry-wide collaboration to address the current fragmented marketplace and to drive economies of scale and global interoperability, which will benefit all players in the emerging M2M ecosystem. The GSMA is supporting this industry-wide collaboration as part of its Connected Living programme, as well as other initiatives.
At the current rate of trajectory, cellular M2M connections will grow at 26 per cent per year (CAGR) in the period between 2014 and 2020. However, according to the report, this growth rate could accelerate beyond 40 per cent a year if desirable market conditions are achieved, leading to the potential two billion cellular M2M connections globally by 2020.
There are a number of areas identified as possible growth stimulators, including: the introduction of additional government policies aimed at encouraging wider deployment of cellular M2M in key sectors such as utilities, smart cities, automotive and healthcare; reductions in M2M module costs; and the development of standardised APIs.
China and the US Continue To Lead the Global M2M Market
China and the US are already established as the first and second largest cellular M2M markets globally in terms of connections and will continue to remain so through to at least 2020. These two markets combined are forecast to account for approximately half of the global total expected by that point. China's large cellular M2M market is attributed to significant investment by the government, underlining the important role of regulatory initiatives in stimulating M2M growth. The US market is being driven by strong growth in the automotive, smart homes and utilities sectors in particular.
On a regional basis, cellular M2M connections are expected to account for around 27 per cent of total mobile connections in North America by 2020, the highest proportion of any global region. Cellular M2M in this region currently accounts for approximately one in 10 connections.
Cellular M2M as a Percentage of Total Mobile Connections
Source: GSMA Intelligence
Q2 2014
Q4 2020
North America
10.5%
27.0%
Europe
6.8%
20.4%
Asia Pacific
2.4%
8.8%
Latin America
2.1%
6.9%
CIS
2.0%
8.3%
MENA
1.2%
3.7%
Sub-Saharan Africa
1.2%
2.9%
World
3.0%
9.7%
The full report, Cellular M2M forecasts and assumptions: 2010-2020 , is available to GSMA Intelligence subscribers and to accredited members of the press on request.
Click here for more information on how to subscribe to GSMA Intelligence:
http://www.gsma.com/newsroom/gsmai/.
-ENDS-
About the GSMA
The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide. Spanning more than 220 countries, the GSMA unites nearly 800 of the world's mobile operators with 250 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and Internet companies, as well as organisations in industry sectors such as financial services, healthcare, media, transport and utilities. The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as Mobile World Congress and Mobile Asia Expo.
For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com. Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA.
Media Contacts
For the GSMA
Elli Karagiorgas (UK)
+44 (0)207 067 0496
elli.karagiorgas@webershandwick.com
Kate Hudson Burdett (US)
+1 206 914 3533
khudson2@webershandwick.com
GSMA Press Office
pressoffice@gsma.com
Most recent headlines
01/01/2026
Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation Announces 2026 Noel Schajris Scholarship The scholarship will cover tuition and housing for one Berklee College of Music stud...
01/01/2026
New year, new games, all with RTX 5080-powered cloud energy. GeForce NOW is kicking off 2026 by looking back at an unforgettable year of wins and wildly high fr...
31/12/2025
Back to All News
NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix Scores Again With the Lions-V...
30/12/2025
As the College Football Playoff Enters the Quarterfinals, ESPN Blows Out Its Meg...
30/12/2025
SVG's Best of 2025: Original ArticlesTake a look back at all our coverage of big-time productions, game-changing technologies, and state-of-the-art new faci...
30/12/2025
MELBOURNE, Fla., Dec. 30, 2025 - L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) will release its fourth quarter 2025 financial results before the market opens on Thursday, J...
30/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
30/12/2025
It marked the first civilian operational authorization for a HAPS flight in Europe, led by Space42's subsidiary, Mira Aerospace
The flight demonstrated HAP...
29/12/2025
San Francisco 49ers Strike Gold With Halftime Laser SpectacularStunning display caps $200 million renovation of Levi's Stadium techBy Dan Daley, Audio Edito...
29/12/2025
The Cup's Around the Corner: An Inside Look at Broadcast Preparations for th...
29/12/2025
SVG's Best of 2025: Longform VideoWatch the standout keynote conversations, deep dives, and panel discussions from the year for free on SVG PLAY!By Brandon ...
29/12/2025
From crisper Lossless audio and immersive music videos in beta to new Audiobooks+ plans, custom transitions between tracks, and in-app Messages, we keep levelin...
29/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
27/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
26/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
26/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
25/12/2025
Holiday lights are twinkling, hot cocoa's on the stove and gamers are settling in for a well-earned break.
Whether staying in or heading on a winter getawa...
24/12/2025
What is AI good for? Posted by MTI Film on December 24, 2025
What is AI good for?
What is AI good for?
It's been three years since ChatGPT first cap...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Back to All News
The Boyfriend' Season 2 Unveils Heartwarming Trailer, Key...
24/12/2025
Back to All News
Love, Fights, and Everything in Between: Badly in Love' Returns for Season 2
Entertainment
24 December 2025
GlobalJapan
Link copied t...
24/12/2025
Scripps Research study links sleep variability with sleep apnea and hypertension How consumers' digital activity trackers could enable personalized health s...
23/12/2025
How guilas Cibae as Dominican Winter League Games Are Locally Produced for Glob...
23/12/2025
BitFire's Jim Akimchuk on Supplying Scalability and Customization in the Clo...
23/12/2025
CAMB.AI Enables European Athletics to Offer Multi-Language SupportPlan is to eventually offer translation into all languages spoken in EuropeBy Ken Kerschbaumer...
23/12/2025
Analysis: As sports media values trend negative, scarcity and quality are king By Callum McCarthy, Editor-at-Large
Monday, December 22, 2025 - 14:08
Print ...
23/12/2025
ESPN, Disney, and NBA Return to the Animated Altcast Fray With Second Edition of...
23/12/2025
End the Year on a High Note and Donate to the Sports Broadcasting Fund Today!By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director
Tuesday, December 23, 2025 - 12:25 pm
P...
23/12/2025
The year is winding down, the weather outside is frightful, and it's the perfect time to escape into a story that warms the heart. For listeners looking for...
23/12/2025
A Zeus motor is hot fire tested at L3Harris' Camden, Arkansas, solid rocket ...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Lightware will exhibit several major product innovations at ISE 2026, including the new USB-C BOOSTER-V1, Google Meet. integration for various Taurus UCX models...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Taking the Stage at Carnegie Hall-On a Global Scale Boston Conservatory Orchestra students reflect on their epic concert marking the 80th session of the UN Gene...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
Netflix's The Great Flood and Culinary Class Wars 2 Top Gl...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
Stranger Things By the Numbers: How the Global Phenomenon Shap...
23/12/2025
Experience the power of WO Automation for Radio's newest service, the System Effectiveness Review. Designed to help you achieve more, a System Effectiveness...
23/12/2025
23 Dec 2025
VEON's Beeline Kazakhstan and Rakuten Symphony Collaborate to A...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
How Steamy Can It Get? Single's Inferno' Season 5 Pre...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
33 Million Global Viewers on Netflix Watched Jake Paul vs. Ant...
At Least One Billion M2M Connections Expected By 2020; Two Billion Milestone Achievable If Market Accelerators Are Successfully Deployed
