Data Tsunami Coming by 2022
The physical and digital universes have something in common: sheer size with respect to volumes that are so large that they require special measurement units. Once one gets used to these new dimensions, concepts like “large” and “small” take on new meaning.
Similar to the consumer data tsunami predicted by telecom operators in the early 2000s, the proliferation of connected and intelligent devices will create giant swells of data in the decades to come.
Analysts predict the following growth in terms of total data volume worldwide:
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8 ZB/yr between 2020 and 2022.
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16 ZB/yr between 2022 and 2024.
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35 ZB/yr between 2024 and 2025.
But a giant swell of data is not necessarily good news for everyone. Only a portion of this data will be useful for improving operational and business efficiencies. With larger volumes of data, more effort will be required to identify relevant and actionable insights.
Hence, looking at this 4.5X increase in data volumes between 2020 and 2025, one immediate conclusion is that advanced data analytics, machine learning and AI capabilities will no longer be merely a “nice-to-have”, but a “need-to-have” for businesses to gain a competitive advantage.
Most telecom analysts suggest the path to get there is a continuum of technological advancements from Assisted Intelligence, to Augmented Intelligence to Autonomous Intelligence. As most autonomous decisions cannot tolerate variable network latency, let alone downtime, edge computing will most likely take over from the current cloud computing framework.
IoT Connectivity Solutions will be a Key Player in Transition
Actionable data driven by intelligent, secure and reliable connectivity solutions will play a key role in this profit transition, giving a huge advantage to industry players who learn to leverage advanced connectivity solutions, while leaving others who don’t far behind.
OEMs, IoT platforms, and other IoT players will benefit from the adoption of a globally centralized IoT connectivity management platform. Such a platform will provide a competitive advantage not only in terms of managing subscriptions and provisioning services more efficiently, but also in collecting and analyzing precious data.
Due to the massive increase in data volumes, the regulatory framework (especially in emerging markets) is aligning for innovative B2B connectivity solutions to thrive. For example, roaming services that were previously tolerated due to the negligible volumes, are now heavily regulated in many countries due a swell of data volumes that will only increase over time. This leaves the door open for intelligent, self-provisioning connectivity solutions to thrive in a new world where instant access to data is key to survival.
