2021 Prediction from the Edge and IoT Posted on : Jan 11 - 2021

The Internet of Things (IoT) has been lurking on the edge of our networks and our consciousness for some time. With a substantial increase in bandwidth promised via 5G networks, the potential for businesses to seize a competitive advantage in 2021 is sizable.

We tapped our networks of vendors, experts, and luminaries to get their prognostications on the potential for IoT, edge, and 5G computing in 2021. What you’re about to read is a lightly edited compendium of their contributed comments.

In 2021, we’ll start to find out what 5G will mean in the real world, says Avishai Sharlin, division president at Amdocs Technology.

“This year, we started to get a glimpse into what 5G can do, as many providers began to roll out 5G services in urban areas,” Sharlin says. “With 30% of US wireless subscriptions expected to be 5G by the end of 2021, we’ll start to see adoption accelerate as AI and IoT device technologies begin to integrate with 5G connectivity. Indeed, our research shows that 31% of consumers are interested in using 5G to enhance their experience with connected home devices, and 26% to improve cloud and online gaming quality.”

OSIsoft CTO Richard Beeson sees a lot of hype surrounding 5G, and says the technology will not have a material impact. “We won’t see any major developments from 5G,” he says. “Despite the hype and excitement of 5G, from a purely technological perspective, we won’t see much 5G impact beyond the consumer market for a while.”

Vinay Ravuri, CEO of EdgeQ, which emerged from stealth in November, would beg to differ, as he sees enterprise 5G deployments gaining steam throughout 2021. View More