M2M connections to reach 13.7 bln by 2021

Machine-to-machine (M2M) connections will reach 13.7 billion by 2021 globally, accounting for 51 percent of the total IP connected devices and connections, according to a report by Cisco. This represents an average of 1.75 M2M connections per capita globally, demonstrating how pervasive M2M connections are going to become to networked lives making Internet of Things (IoT) a reality.

Globally, the largest segment of M2M applications is going to be in the connected home (46 percent of the total M2M connections by 2021). The fastest global growth, however, is going to come from the connected health segment. Connected health M2M connections will grow at a 30 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2016 to 2021. While connected cities are the second fastest growing M2M vertical globally (29 percent CAGR), it is fastest growing segment in regions such as North America (35 percent CAGR), Middle East and Africa (56 percent CAGR) and Latin America (50 percent CAGR).

Connected cities includes M2M applications such as environment and public safety (CCTV, street lighting, waste removal, et al.), public space advertising, public transport and road traffic management.

While M2M will account for 51 percent of the total devices and connections by 2021, they will account for 5 percent of the total IP traffic.