Global cellular IoT module shipments record first-ever annual decline – Counterpoint Research

Despite a decline in shipments, Quectel continued to lead, followed by Fibocom and China Mobile. #pressrelease

March 21, 2024

1 Min Read

Global cellular IoT module shipments saw their first-ever annual decline in 2023, falling 2% YoY, according to Counterpoint's latest Global Cellular IoT Module and Chipset Tracker by Application report. Inventory adjustments following supply chain disruption and reduced demand in some key market verticals like industrial and enterprise were some of the key factors driving this decline.

4G Cat 1 bis grew the fastest in 2023, capturing over 22% of the shipments. In China, 4G Cat 1 bis has now become the primary cellular standard for POS, smart meter, telematics and asset tracking markets, owing to its affordability and energy efficiency. The market is slowly transitioning from 4G Cat 1 and NB-IoT to more efficient 4G Cat 1 bis.

  • Quectel, the leading module vendor, experienced a decline in its market share primarily because of weakened demand in markets outside China. The company has partnered with Syrma SGS Technology to manufacture IoT modules in India.

  • China Mobile and Fibocom experienced double-digit YoY growth. China Mobile's growth was driven by smart meters, asset trackers and POS applications, while Fibocom's growth was driven by POS and telematics applications.

  • This year’s merger between Telit and Thales propelled Telit Cinterion into the top five vendors of IoT modules. To further solidify its presence in India, Telit partnered with VVDN for local production.

  • Several Chinese brands like Unionman, OpenLuat, Lierda and Neoway have shown significant growth within specialized markets like smart meter, asset tracking and POS.

Read the full press release here.

Counterpoint Research

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