Observations from the 2026 Global IoT Conference: A Key Milestone in the Large-Scale Deployment of AIoT, with Communication Modules Taking Center Stage in Industry Value
From June 24th to 26th, 2026, the 2026 Global Internet of Things Conference & Shenzhen International Internet of Things Industry Ecosystem Expo (GIoT) was held as scheduled at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center (Futian). With an exhibition area of 40,000 square meters , 400 exhibitors, and over 60,000 professional visitors , the event attracted attendees from across China, as well as more than ten countries and regions including the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, France, the Netherlands, and Australia .
The exhibition showcased a complete industry chain, from underlying chips, computing power, and data to upper-level application scenarios . A single core theme ran throughout the entire exhibition: AIoT is moving from proof-of-concept to large-scale deployment, and communication modules, as the core link connecting the physical and digital worlds, are taking center stage in the distribution of industry value.
I. Full industry chain coverage: Communication modules occupy a core hub position in the "network layer".
GIoT's exhibits are clearly divided into five major sections: underlying sensing technology, communication and network technology, smart terminal hardware, platforms and solutions, and industry collaboration ecosystem . Among these, the communication and network technology section is listed as an independent core section, with exhibits explicitly including 5G/6G communication modules, LPWAN (LoRa/NB-IoT), and edge computing gateways . From a vertical industry chain perspective, GIoT divides its exhibition area into the sensing layer, network layer, platform layer, and application layer —communication modules, located at the network layer, connect upwards to the platform layer for data aggregation and analysis, and downwards to the sensing layer for data acquisition and terminal execution, making them a crucial link in the entire industry chain.
What does this mean? For communication module manufacturers, GIoT is not a general exhibition they "casually attend," but rather an industry hub that precisely brings together downstream buyers and application solution providers . The target audience includes system integrators, IT service providers, software developers, and end-user buyers in fields such as smart cities, intelligent transportation, smart grids, smart manufacturing, and smart homes . For communication module suppliers, these are precisely their core target customer groups.
II. AIoT Becomes the Main Theme: The Value Leap from "Connectivity" to "Intelligent Connectivity"
The most noteworthy trend at this year's exhibition is that the deep integration of AI and IoT has permeated every corner of the event.
The exhibition will highlight complete IoT technology solutions across ten application areas , including smart cities, smart security, smart parks/communities, and smart homes . Meanwhile, new AI+ consumer electronics products such as AI glasses, AI PCs, and AI toys, as well as cutting-edge fields like humanoid robots and large-scale model applications, will also be showcased .
The concurrent forums further confirmed this trend. During the exhibition, a series of hot topics were discussed, including "Analysis of industry market dynamics and development directions by leaders of well-known IoT companies; Explanation of core IoT technologies by industry experts; Release of new IoT products and technologies; and How to apply 5G technology to the IoT field . " Several professional forums were held concurrently , including the Global IoT Summit, the 5G+AIoT Development Forum, the Artificial Intelligence Technology and Application Summit Forum, and the Industrial IoT Application Summit Forum .
As AI moves from the cloud to the edge and from concept to deployment, communication modules are no longer just "data transmission pipes," but key nodes that support edge AI inference and enable local intelligent decision-making. This is the core logic behind the value leap of communication modules. The inclusion of "AI + Ecosystem (chips, computing power, data, edge computing, vision)" as a separate section in the exhibits indicates that the industry consensus has reached on the downward shift of AI capabilities from chips to modules and then to edge computing.
III. Market Data Support: The Cellular IoT Module Market is Undergoing Structural Restructuring
The exhibition's popularity and the number of exhibitors did not come out of thin air. According to Counterpoint Research's latest Global Cellular IoT Module and Chip Tracker report, global cellular IoT module shipments grew by 4% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026 .
However, the drivers of growth are undergoing structural differentiation. 5G is the fastest-growing cellular technology with a year-on-year growth rate of 39% , mainly benefiting from increased demand for routers/CPEs, connected PCs, and automotive applications. Meanwhile, shipments of 4G Cat 1 bis modules increased by 12% year-on-year , primarily driven by demand for smart meters, POS terminals, asset tracking, and connected vehicle applications in developing markets such as India, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America.
6% of total cellular IoT module shipments in the first quarter of 2026. Although this proportion is not high, the trend of AI capabilities being pushed down to the module level has been established—from the independent setting of the "AI + Ecosystem" section at exhibitions to the large number of AI consumer electronics products on display, all of these confirm this direction.
More noteworthy are the changes on the cost side. Counterpoint predicts that the average selling price of cellular IoT modules will rebound in the second half of 2026 due to rising storage costs, as suppliers will raise module prices to maintain profitability. This upward price trend is expected to gradually extend to entry-level product segments, including Cat 1 and LTE-M.
The rebound in ASP signifies that value competition in the module industry is shifting from "price wars" to "value wars" —high-value-added modules that can provide high reliability, multi-protocol integration, and edge AI capabilities will gain the upper hand in the new round of market competition. The full industry chain showcase at GIoT, from communication modules to edge computing gateways, and from AI chips to AIoT platforms, is a concentrated manifestation of this trend.
IV. Three Strategic Opportunities for Communication Module Manufacturers from the Perspective of GIoT
The signals released by GIoT 2026 are clear enough. For communication module manufacturers, three major strategic opportunities are taking shape:
Opportunity 1: Multi-protocol integration capabilities are becoming standard. Single communication protocols can no longer meet the needs of complex scenarios. At the exhibition, a full spectrum of connectivity capabilities was showcased, ranging from the underlying sensing layer (RFID, sensors, positioning technologies (UWB/BeiDou)) to the communication and network layer (5G/6G modules, LPWAN (LoRa/NB-IoT), and edge computing gateways), covering short-range to wide-area applications and from licensed to unlicensed frequency bands . Vendors capable of supporting multiple communication protocols simultaneously on a single module will gain broader application coverage and higher customer loyalty.
Opportunity Two: AI Capabilities Descending to Module Levels. As AI glasses, AIPCs, humanoid robots, and large-scale model applications become the focus of the exhibition , communication modules need to handle not only data transmission but also computational tasks such as edge AI inference and local decision-making . The "AI + Ecosystem" section of the exhibits covers the entire chain from chips, computing power, and data to edge computing and vision . The integration of modules and AI is changing from an "optional" to a "must-have."
Opportunity Three: Vertical Industry Know-How Becomes Key to Differentiated Competition. The exhibition showcased comprehensive IoT solutions in smart cities, smart security, smart homes, and industrial internet . Suppliers who deeply understand the needs of vertical industries and provide customized module solutions will gain higher customer loyalty and premium pricing power. The target audience included end-user buyers from over 20 sub-sectors, such as smart cities, smart transportation, smart grids, smart manufacturing, smart healthcare, smart parking, smart meters, and smart homes —each sub-sector representing differentiated module needs.
In conclusion
The 2026 Global Internet of Things Conference and Shenzhen International Internet of Things Industry Ecosystem Expo has concluded, but the industry trends it revealed are only just beginning to take hold.
400 exhibitors, 60,000 professional visitors, and a complete industry chain covering the perception layer to the application layer —behind these figures lies an IoT industry landscape that is rapidly being restructured. As 5G leads the growth of cellular IoT modules with a 39% growth rate, as the AI+ ecosystem rises from a peripheral section of the exhibition to an independent exhibition area, and as communication modules expand from a single link in the "network layer" to a core link connecting the four layers of perception, network, platform, and application—communication modules are moving from a "supporting role in the industry chain" to a "value center . "
For those working in the communication module industry, the question they need to answer now is no longer "Will AIoT come?", but rather "When AIoT is deployed on a large scale, are your module solutions ready? "
