Next-Gen Industrial IoT to Rely on Direct-to-Device Connectivity

Key Takeaways

Demand for direct-to-device (D2D) IoT connectivity is surging, with 91% of decision-makers eager to adopt it within 18 months.
Over 55% of organizations have integrated satellite into their IoT strategies, a significant increase from last year.
High confidence exists in D2D’s ability to enhance industries like agriculture, mining, and energy through various applications.

Growing Adoption of Direct-to-Device IoT

Research from Viasat indicates that the adoption of non-terrestrial networks (NTNs), particularly direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity, is poised to transform critical industries such as agriculture, mining, and energy. A survey involving 600 IoT decision-makers across key sectors revealed a strong intent towards adopting D2D IoT devices, which facilitate data sharing without the need for dedicated satellite terminals.

The survey found that 91% of respondents anticipate D2D will be widely implemented in industrial IoT within the next 18 months. Nearly a third (32%) of current terrestrial IoT users aim to adopt D2D technologies within six months. However, while enthusiasm is high, 81% believe that full adoption may take one to two years.

Among the decision-makers surveyed, 89% indicated readiness to replace existing IoT connectivity methods with D2D options in the next two to three years. A significant number, over a quarter, plan to make the transition within six months, and two-thirds by the end of the year.

The survey highlights advantages of D2D connectivity, particularly its compact form factor (61%), suitability for large-scale deployments (59%), and effectiveness in areas lacking cellular service (55%). Key use cases where D2D can drive value include crop storage monitoring (33%) in agriculture, automated haulage vehicles (36%) in mining, vehicular tracking (43%) in transport, water infrastructure monitoring (43%) in utilities, and wellhead monitoring (33%) in energy.

The findings also reveal a marked increase in interest towards integrating satellite technology into IoT operations, with more than half of the organizations surveyed (55%) employing satellite solutions, up from 41% the previous year.

Andy Kessler, Viasat’s vice-president of enterprise, acknowledged the excitement regarding D2D, stating that new devices promise to lower barriers to entry by minimizing costs and complexity. However, he also emphasized the significance of this technological shift, stressing the importance of collaboration to maximize the safety, efficiency, and sustainability benefits that satellite-enabled IoT can provide.

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