These are the biggest IoT developments to anticipate in 2025

The first month of 2025 is now over. This year, too, a number of important developments are planned. The IoT world continues to develop at a rapid pace. This gives organizations more and more opportunities to work more efficiently, sustainably and innovatively.

In this blog, we will take you along the 7 most important IoT developments for 2025. From the flight of 5G and the merger of OT and IT, to new insights in energy management and the future of LoRa. This way, you will be completely up-to-date and you can get started with IoT this year with a fresh and well-informed view!

The new IoT developments of 2025

1. Flight of 5G

The 5G frequency auctions in the Netherlands and Belgium last year marked the start of the major rollout of (Private) 5G. In 2025, 5G will really take off. The technology will be applied more widely in more and more sectors and will demonstrate its added value compared to technologies such as WiFi. Because the potential of 5G has been definitively proven.

In the Do IoT Fieldlab and Rail FieldLab 5G we have already worked on many impressive use cases for ProRail, NS and TU Delft. Examples include the robot dog Spot and smart drones and sensors in tomato greenhouses.

5G hardware developments

One of the most important developments in 2025 is the growing availability of 5G hardware. For example, more network hardware is being developed that is compatible with the Belgian frequency bands. In addition, we have introduced a demo case with which you can easily experience the benefits of a Private 5G network yourself. These kinds of practical tools help organizations make the step to 5G faster.

Different flavors in 5G routers

In addition, we see a strong increase in the supply of 5G routers - a positive development. The more choice, the faster the adoption of the technology can take place. However, it is important to pay attention to the differences between routers.

There is a clear distinction between performance, brand and type of router. Not all routers have the optimal performance to fully utilize the high speeds and low latency of 5G. For applications where these requirements are less critical, souped-up 4G+ routers remain an attractive and future-proof solution. This allows companies to upgrade directly from 2G to 5G, for example.

As a Value Added Solution Provider, we continue to closely monitor these developments for you.

2. Security in IoT: Are you ready for the demands of NIS2?

With the introduction of the NIS2 directive, 2025 will be the year in which security and resilience within IoT solutions higher on the agenda than ever before. Where previously requirements were already set for the safety of IoT systems, this is now being continued into a widely requested standard. The focus is no longer just on individual devices. The entire chain is being examined – from production and distribution to implementation, use and management.

For example, does your organization comply with important standards such as IEC62443 or ISO27001? Companies that embrace these guidelines, among others, position themselves as reliable partners in an increasingly regulated market.

Stay ahead in security

NIS2 emphasizes that the entire chain must be secure. This means that every link in the process must be resistant to threats. This is especially crucial in critical sectors such as (local) governments, energy, transport, healthcare and ICT services. Frontrunners who already apply these standards have a head start on the competition. While late bloomers run the risk of falling behind.

We also work closely with our suppliers to ensure that the supply chain is NIS2 compliant and meets all guidelines. In addition, we are working hard to make all our products and services even more cyberproof.

Wondering what NIS2 means for your application? We are happy to help you!

3. What the end of public LoRa means

In Belgium, Proximus has already put an end to public LoRa. What will happen if the Netherlands follows suit and operators see too little potential in this technology? Does this mean the end of LoRa? Absolutely not! In fact, it opens the door to new opportunities for Private LoRa networks.

More control with Private LoRa

Stopping public LoRa means that companies are no longer dependent on operators to use this technology. With Private LoRa, you decide if and how you use the network – you have full control over the network. This not only offers more control and better (indoor) coverage. It also provides the opportunity to create customized solutions that meet your specific needs.

4. EPBD IV and beyond: why invest in energy management now

More and more organisations are setting ambitious sustainability goals and want to take concrete steps to achieve them. European regulations such as the EPBD III emphasise the obligation to monitor energy consumption and to report. And this guideline will be further expanded with the expected update EPBD IV.

It is important that organisations take action now to meet future standards. It is crucial that companies do a baseline measurement now. This will allow them to actually demonstrate how they have become more sustainable over the next 10 years. By gaining real-time insight into energy consumption, companies can also work more efficiently and save costs. Mapping and optimising energy consumption will become a significant part of strategic policy.

5. IoT is increasingly becoming business critical

IoT is now deeply integrated into daily business operations and is increasingly being used for business-critical objectives. As a result, 24/7 service provision and permanent, proactive monitoring are becoming increasingly important.

Directly impacts business success

IoT is becoming indispensable for monitoring, controlling and optimising processes that directly influence the success of organisations. For example, think of large solar parks. Thanks to IoT, solar panels can be switched off remotely in the event of a negative energy price to prevent high costs. IoT is also increasingly being used in predictive maintenance.

Previously, there was no information, so any additional information from IoT applications was welcome in decision-making and optimization. However, IoT is now a crucial part of a company's primary processes. When these types of systems fail, it can lead to significant disruptions in business processes. Proactive monitoring and reliable connectivity ensure that data is always available. And that problems are resolved quickly before they escalate.

6. 2G & Private GSM sunset postponed until 2027

The planned 2G shutdown at the end of this year has been postponed to the end of 2027. This decision was made due to the large amount of migration stress that this change brings with it. We also see that many organizations are still not fully prepared. Many migrations have to be carried out 2 to 12. Even in important systems where you would not immediately expect this, 2G is still widely used. Think of water management and intercoms in elevators.

Although the deadline has now been extended, it is still important to plan migrations in good time. By starting early, companies can not only reduce operational risks, but also benefit from the advantages that 4G and 5G offer.

7. OT and IT merge

Where OT (Operational Technology) and IT (Information Technology) used to be separate worlds, we see these two domains growing closer together. Previously, OT systems, such as PLCs, were standalone solutions. They only became remotely accessible later. Today, OT systems are increasingly integrated into an overarching IoT and ICT network architecture.

The merging of OT and IT is mainly happening in the areas of security, monitoring and availability. Business processes can be better aligned in this way. OT processes, which are often business-critical, now increasingly require continuous monitoring. This is to prevent downtime and to provide better proactive protection against cyber threats.

Making optimal use of innovations

As you can see, the world of IoT does not stand still. Developments follow each other at a rapid pace, which means that the possibilities for organizations to improve processes continue to grow. By making smart choices and investing in a targeted manner, organizations can make optimal use of these innovations.

It is therefore important not only to follow trends, but also to play an active role in integrating new developments. Think of building strong partnerships, applying sustainable and efficient solutions, and using IoT to make processes more reliable and future-proof.

Knowing more

Has this blog made you enthusiastic about (starting with) IoT? And are you curious about what possibilities it offers for your organization? We are happy to help you! Take Contact Contact our account managers so that you can see together how you can successfully start with IoT applications.