With a myriad of wireless technologies being utilized for “Internet of Things” applications, there might be an opportunity for cable companies to serve as a hub or bridge for an IoT ecosystem, according to cable research and development group CableLabs.
With more wearables entering the market seemingly every day, significant investment in “smart home” features as well as interest in device connectivity for industrial purposes, IoT is expected to see major growth in the coming years. Wireless standards used for IoT can include anything from cellular to Wi-Fi and other short-range technologies such as Zigbee, Z-wave and Bluetooth. But in order for end users to have comprehensive views of, say, their home or enterprise IoT end points that are connected via all of those technologies, a central hub of some sort will probably be necessary.
Clark Stevens, principal architect at CableLabs, spoke with RCR Wireless News’ Kelly Hill at last week’s SCTE Cable-Tec Expo about the potential role for cable companies in serving as a bridge among disparate wireless technologies for IoT, both for end users and for programmers.
Watch the video interview on cable and IoT and get more coverage on the intersection of wireless and cable from RCR Wireless News’ YouTube channel:
