How Industrial IoT Is Reshaping the Wireless Module Landscape — Trends, Data, and Key Success Factors
Introduction: An Ongoing Shift in Industrial Focus
The global wireless communication module industry is undergoing profound structural changes. The Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) has surpassed consumer electronics to become the fastest-growing and largest core application market for wireless modules . This shift is not accidental—it is the result of the combined effects of four forces: market expansion, technological maturity, policy support, and industry demand.
According to the "Global Wireless Module Industry In-Depth Analysis Report (2026)" released by IIM Information, the global wireless module industry market size is expected to reach approximately US$18.73 billion in 2026 , a 14.2% increase compared to 2025, with shipments exceeding 1.25 billion units . On the application demand side, Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) and smart manufacturing already account for 21.3% of IoT module shipments , with demand for industrial sensors and edge gateway modules growing by 18% annually. Industrial Internet modules achieved a 37% year-on-year growth in 2025 , becoming the second largest segment after consumer electronics.
I. Why has the Industrial Internet of Things become the main battleground for wireless modules?
1.1 Market Level: A Trillion-Yuan Demand Pool
$277.35 billion in 2025 to $537.4 billion in 2030 , representing a CAGR of 14.3% . Each IoT terminal requires at least one wireless module, and the size of the downstream market directly determines the total demand for upstream modules .
1.2 Technical Aspect: Wireless solutions are systematically replacing wired connections.
Industrial scenarios have historically been dominated by wired protocols such as RS-485 and Modbus, but three major pain points are driving wireless alternatives: high cabling costs , with expensive cabling and construction fees for wired deployments, while wireless modules offer a low-cost "plug-and-play" solution; urgent need to upgrade existing equipment , with the "Implementation Opinions" issued by eight departments including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in July 2026 explicitly encouraging enterprises to deploy converged industrial equipment with embedded advanced communication modules; and the inherent need for wireless in industrial scenarios , such as electromagnetic interference environments, wide-coverage mining areas, mobile AGVs, and robots, where wired connections are unsuitable and naturally rely on wireless solutions.
1.3 Industry Level: The Maturity of New Technologies Transforms "Usable" into "Easy to Use"
The cost of 5G modules has decreased by approximately 40% within two years, with industrial 5G module prices dropping to around 200 yuan, a 90% decrease compared to the initial commercial launch period . Shipments of 5G RedCap modules are projected to reach 8 million units in 2025 and exceed 30 million units in 2026. The high throughput and low latency of Wi-Fi 6/7 meet the needs of industrial video surveillance and other applications; Wi-Fi HaLow provides communication coverage of up to 1 kilometer in the Sub-1GHz band ; and the integration of Bluetooth 6.0 and edge AI enables modules to perform local data preprocessing. This increased technological maturity directly lowers the barriers and risks for industrial users adopting wireless solutions.
1.4 Demand Level: Edge AI Drives Module Upgrades Towards Intelligence
Edge AI computing power is increasingly being deployed at the module level . Factory production lines operate with hundreds of sensors and robotic arms, requiring decisions to be made within milliseconds, leaving no room for cloud-based processing. Modules integrating AI acceleration capabilities can perform intelligent processing at the data source. According to IIM data, shipments of edge intelligent modules (integrated AI accelerators) reached 230 million units in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 189% . Industrial applications are driving the upgrade of modules from communication devices to key nodes integrating communication, computing, and intelligence .
1.5 Policy Level: Global Collaboration to Promote Industrial Internet of Things
In July 2026, eight departments, including China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, issued the "Implementation Opinions on Promoting the High-Quality Development of the Industrial Internet," which explicitly proposed to comprehensively improve the connectivity rate of industrial equipment . The "Action Plan for Promoting the High-Quality Development of Industrial Internet Platforms (2026-2028)" proposed that the number of connected industrial devices should exceed 120 million units by 2028. The EU's RED Directive amendment (effective in 2026) imposed stricter limits on the energy efficiency of wireless modules; and the North American FCC promoted the 6GHz band dynamic spectrum sharing standard. The core logic of these policies is that the connectivity rate of industrial equipment is a key indicator of a country's manufacturing competitiveness .
II . Special Requirements of Wireless Modules in Industrial Scenarios
Industrial-grade modules must achieve breakthroughs in the following dimensions :
Wide temperature range operation capability. Stable operation within a wide temperature range of -40°C to 85°C.
High reliability and interference resistance. Excellent interference resistance design, stable connection maintenance, and millisecond-level low latency response.
Long lifecycle and guaranteed supply. Industrial equipment has an upgrade cycle of years or even decades, requiring long-term stable supply and technical support.
Small size and high integration. Industrial equipment has limited internal space, so it needs to integrate more functions within the smallest possible size.
III . Industry Practice: Ofeixin Industrial Internet of Things Deployment
Founded in 2014, Shenzhen Oufexin Technology Co., Ltd., headquartered in Guangming District, Shenzhen, has been recognized as a National High-tech Enterprise . Its product line covers Wi-Fi modules, Wi-Fi HaLow, Bluetooth modules, PLC modules, embedded IoT/AIoT modules, and more, with multiple product lines catering to the core needs of industrial scenarios.
3.1 Wi-Fi 7 Module: Designed for High-Bandwidth Industrial Scenarios
O2Flytek has launched the O2072PM Wi-Fi 7 module based on the Qualcomm QCC2072 chip . Featuring an M.2 Key E interface, a 2T2R dual-antenna design, and support for Wi-Fi/BT coexistence, its 320MHz bandwidth, 4096-QAM modulation, and MLO multi-link aggregation technology give it significant advantages in industrial video surveillance, high-definition image transmission, VR/AR, and other scenarios.
3.2 Wi-Fi HaLow Module: A Powerful Industrial Tool for Long-Range, Low-Power Operation
The 4108E-S module launched by Oufexin is based on the Morse Micro MM6108 chip, operates in the Sub-1GHz band, supports data rates up to 32Mbps , and is suitable for scenarios such as industrial automation, warehouse management, transportation and logistics, smart agriculture, and smart grids .
3.3 PLC Module: An Industrial Solution That Enables Communication with Power
Power line communication (PLC) utilizes existing power lines to transmit data, eliminating the need for additional wiring . Oufexin PLC modules have been applied in new energy industrial scenarios such as charging piles, photovoltaic inverters, and energy storage systems , featuring low cost, stable communication, strong real-time performance, and strong anti-interference capabilities.
3.4 Industrial-grade Wi-Fi/Bluetooth module
Ofeixin product line is clearly divided into three levels: consumer electronics grade, industrial grade, and automotive grade . The industrial grade module has excellent industrial temperature range performance and millisecond-level low latency , with an operating temperature range of -40 °C to 85°C, a transmit power of 19dBm, and a receive sensitivity of -82dBm.
IV . Market Prospects and Industry Opportunities
In terms of market size , the global wireless module market is projected to reach US$14.44 billion by 2030. The Chinese WLAN module market is expected to generate US$3.5-4.5 billion in annual revenue by 2026, with total shipments exceeding 600-700 million units.
From a technological perspective , industrial module shipments are projected to reach 110 million units in 2026. The 5G industrial IoT market is expected to grow from $17.3 billion in 2025 to $22.56 billion in 2026.
In terms of the competitive landscape , Chinese suppliers have already occupied 67% of the global module market share, but they also face the dual pressure of rising material prices and trade barriers.
V .Conclusion: Four forces working together to drive the shift in industrial focus
The Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) has become the main battleground for wireless modules, a result of the combined effects of market forces, technology, demand, and policy .
Market level : The trillion-dollar and rapidly growing IoT market provides a huge demand pool for modules;
From a technical perspective : the maturity and cost reduction of technologies such as 5G, Wi-Fi 6/7, Wi-Fi HaLow, and Bluetooth 6.0 have transformed wireless solutions from "usable" to "easy to use".
On the demand side : The extreme requirements for real-time performance and reliability in industrial scenarios are forcing modules to evolve towards edge intelligence;
Policy level : Major global economies have elevated the connectivity of industrial equipment to a national strategy, creating institutionalized incremental demand.
These four forces reinforce each other : technological progress lowers the barriers to entry, policy promotion accelerates transformation, market demand amplifies the scale effect, and the scale effect further reduces costs, forming a positive cycle.
The Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) has become the main battleground for wireless modules. This is not a prediction, but a fact that has already occurred and is accelerating. Whoever can deeply understand the special needs of industrial scenarios—wide temperature range, high reliability, long life cycle, and strong anti-interference—and continuously invest in areas such as multi-mode fusion and edge intelligence will gain the upper hand in the next stage.
