LOS ANGELES – The “Internet of Things” is a hot buzzword in the ICT industry and as the technology takes shape, industry leaders are considering implications like the pending explosion of data generated by objects and sensors, the need to secure that data and the access networks that will allow the data to be converted into actionable insight.
These topics were all highlighted during a panel discussion at this week’s 2015 HetNet Expo put on by PCIA. Moderator Iain Gillott of iGR led a thoughtful discussion on the burgeoning IoT space that included Jeff Lund of Belden, Steve Steinhilber of Cisco and Bob Gessel of Ericsson.
“Connecting is only one piece of the story,” said Steinhilber regarding IoT. “The other piece is around what you do with this information being generated. We think there’s going to be a massive explosion in data generated.”
Steinhibler projected one zettabyte a day. “The data is where the value is, not the connectivity, per se. It’s what you capture.”
Gillott, focused on the heterogeneous network-specific bent of the show asked, “How does all this relate to opportunity for the audience? What does this give to a tower vendor or an antenna vendor or a fiber vendor? Is it simply more stuff on the network?”
Gessell said realization of the IoT will put “increased intensity on the indoor coverage. With IoT, there’s again an interesting dynamic here in exchanging the capability for the cost of deploying this capability. I think what we will see is that, especially large campuses, manufacturing facilities, even large buildings, city building settings, where they’re going to be driven because the IoT technology and cost are going to be coming down. Deploying sensors in buildings could be another interesting evolution of what we do when we step inside the building.”
Lund gave the example of a smart oil field generating data. “I need to bring the data back somehow.” He said the most cost effective model is to generally leverage existing cellular systems. “I think you’ll see access networks brought into more places.”
Check out a video of the full panel:
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