According to Cullen International’s latest Global Trends benchmark, new policies and regulations aimed at promoting the use of the internet of things (IoT) by industry, the public sector and consumers are taking shape in different parts of the world.

Among the countries analysed in this research, many have adapted their spectrum plans in recent years to enable IoT deployments across different technologies and use cases. Many have increased availability of unlicensed spectrum for Wi-Fi use in general or have licensed new spectrum across different bands. In some countries, portions of 5G spectrum have been earmarked for industrial use at the local level.

Some countries have started to address how to ensure adequate levels of privacy and security, and clarify liabilities bound to IoT use. For example, Australia, the UK, and the US issued proposals aiming to increase consumer trust in the use of IoT devices.

All countries covered have favoured testing the technology in different industry verticals, sometimes co-funding pilot initiatives. Several governments have also set targets for large-scale industrial IoT deployments. For example, both China and South Korea set targets in the automotive, smart cities and utilities sectors. 

Published on 15 March 2021, this comprehensive Global Trends research on IoT policies and regulation covers Australia, Brazil, China, the European Union, India, Japan, Korea, Singapore, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

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