Interestinghttps://www.wsj.com/articles/superfast-5g-gadgets-off-to-slow-start-11665689283?
Despite their huge potential, 5G-enabled internet-of-things devices aren’t ubiquitous yet
Several years into the 5G rollout, the internet-of-things boom largely hasn’t happened. There were about 4.4 million 5G-connected internet-of-things devices in the U.S. in 2021, according to analysis firm International Data Corp.—a sizable number but a drop in the bucket compared with the nearly 100 million smartphones capable of 5G.
Healthcare workers who use IoT devices to care for patients or companies that use devices to track employees’ work habits, for example, are largely comfortable with the connectivity of their existing gear, she says. Many don’t yet see that the features offered by 5G—notably faster data-transmission speeds—are worth the price of an upgrade.
- Sandra Wendelken, an IDC analyst.
“The majority aren’t using 5G technology because the return on investment isn’t yet there,” Ms. Wendelken says.
“Growth has been slower than some in the industry had hoped, but many factors related to the standard, the pandemic, and supply-chain and economic issues played a part,” Ms. Wendelken says. “There have been fits and starts to each wireless-technology generation, and 5G is no different.”