How Regulatory Shifts and SGP.32 Are Redefining Enterprise IoT Strategies
The Internet of Things is entering a new phase of scale and complexity. Global IoT connections are forecast to reach 21.9 billion in 2026 and nearly 30 billion by the early 2030s, marking a decade in which connected devices become foundational to how industries operate. From energy grids and smart hospitals to retail automation and digital manufacturing, IoT now underpins essential processes worldwide.
But with this growth comes new challenges. Technologies evolve, standards mature, regulatory frameworks tighten, and business models shift. Enterprises deploying large fleets of devices must now plan for a future defined by compliance demands, rising security expectations, and the need for multi-network resilience. In this landscape, providers will be judged less on raw connectivity and more on their ability to help organisations navigate long-term uncertainty.
Insights from experts at Wireless Logic — a global leader in IoT connectivity — highlight the forces reshaping the market as we move toward 2026.
Regulation, Uncertainty and the Need for Forward-Thinking Providers
As IoT becomes more deeply embedded in national infrastructure and critical services, governments are intensifying digital and data-sovereignty requirements. Enterprises expanding globally must contend with increasingly fragmented rules, from localisation mandates to cybersecurity certifications.
“As countries tighten digital rules and data expectations, global IoT will depend far more on how well providers can help enterprises navigate shifting policies and long-term uncertainty.”
— Cyril Deschanel, Group MD Europe & UK, Wireless Logic
This shift, Deschanel notes, will redefine how enterprises evaluate IoT partners:
“This will push the market away from simple coverage comparisons and price-led decisions. Instead, the strongest competitors will be the ones who can offer real flexibility, clear guidance and the confidence that fleets can adapt when rules or network conditions change.”
Standards such as SGP.32, which promise more seamless eSIM updates and lifecycle management at scale, will further accelerate this transition.
“With standards like SGP.32 promising smoother updates at scale, enterprises will gravitate towards partners who think ahead rather than react. This will be the difference between providers selling connectivity and providers shaping how organisations stay resilient in a world where nothing stays still for long.”
SGP.32: Beyond the Hype and Toward Practical, Scalable Provisioning
While SGP.32 is often portrayed as a transformative moment for IoT, Wireless Logic experts suggest expectations should remain grounded. The new standard will simplify credential management and provisioning, but only providers with robust, multi-market connectivity portfolios will unlock its full potential.
“The reality of SGP.32 will come to the fore – there will be a realisation that eSIM is just a delivery vehicle for connectivity, not necessarily a unicorn new product that will change the industry. Providers who can offer a breadth of connectivity solutions across markets will shine brightest. The dream of genuine remote connectivity provisioning will unfold, as it was dreamt of years ago, and those without strong connectivity products will suffer.”
— Toby Gasston, Principal Product Manager, Wireless Logic
As SGP.32 lowers barriers to entry, more providers — including those historically focused on consumer mobile — are expected to move into the IoT space. But Gasston believes this shift will highlight the distinctive strength of mature, industrial-grade IoT players.
“SGP.32 will encourage new IoT connectivity providers, particularly those who have served the consumer market, but this will highlight the value of mature IoT connectivity providers and their advanced value add services and platforms that provide connectivity at scale.”
A Market Defined by Adaptability
These insights point to an IoT ecosystem where resilience, foresight and regulatory awareness become central competitive differentiators. As millions of devices remain deployed for years — often in mission-critical environments — enterprises will increasingly favour partners capable of long-term lifecycle management rather than simple connectivity supply.
While standards like SGP.32 introduce important improvements, true success will depend on providers’ ability to combine technology with regulatory intelligence, multi-market expertise, and secure, scalable platforms.
In a world where nothing stays still for long, IoT organisations must prepare not just to connect — but to adapt.
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