The shift toward managed service providers is gaining momentum in the cellular IoT sector, offering OEMs and enterprises a streamlined approach to designing products for multiple national markets. By partnering with managed service providers, device makers can avoid the complexities of negotiating with local carriers and redesigning provisioning processes for each country. This strategic approach reduces commercial and operational fragmentation, making it easier for system integrators to evaluate coverage, policy control, support, and lifecycle management.
For mobile operators, the growth of cellular IoT presents both opportunities and challenges. The market is forecast to reach 6.5 billion devices and €21.5 billion in annual connectivity revenues by 2030, according to Berg Insight. However, the low average revenue per user (ARPU) means that success depends on efficiently handling large numbers of devices. To achieve profitability, mobile operators must focus on key areas such as billing, remote SIM provisioning, diagnostics, roaming control, and integration with enterprise systems.
For industrial players, utilities, and fleet operators, the cellular IoT procurement landscape is evolving. The report highlights that the connectivity layer is now an integral part of a broader operating model, involving eSIM management, multinational coverage, device onboarding, and long service lifecycles. As the market matures, the winning providers will be those that make it easier to deploy and manage large IoT estates, rather than simply having the largest number of active connections.
