Franz Dugand, Senior Director of Product Marketing, Ceva looks at the future of IoT connectivity, highlighting multi-protocol, AI optimisation and more
As IoT adoption accelerates, seamless connectivity is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. From smart homes and industrial automation to healthcare and automotive, IoT devices must navigate efficiently and reliably across multiple wireless standards. The next evolution of IoT connectivity will be driven by multi-protocol wireless solutions, AI-powered optimisation, software-defined networking, and wireless sensing, enabling IoT to expand into new industries. Here’s how we see these trends shaping the future of smart connectivity.
Multi-protocol wireless connectivity
The IoT ecosystem includes diverse communication standards such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Matter, UWB, and cellular networks—each designed for different applications. However, these technologies have traditionally operated independently, making interoperability a challenge. Consumers want all of their smart home devices to work together, and enterprises need seamless industrial IoT (IIoT) environments that rely on multiple connectivity protocols.
To meet these needs, the industry is moving toward multi-protocol wireless solutions that enable devices to communicate seamlessly across different standards. For example, a smart home device might use Zigbee for low-power sensors, Wi-Fi for high-bandwidth applications, and Bluetooth LE for direct user interactions—all within the same system.
Here are a few other reasons multi-protocol wireless connectivity is essential:
- Improved device interoperability: smart devices from different manufacturers can communicate without compatibility issues
- Adaptive network performance: multi-protocol solutions ensure uninterrupted connectivity, enabling devices to dynamically switch between standards based on real-time network conditions, ensuring stable and efficient connectivity
- Energy efficiency and scalability: IoT devices can optimise power consumption by selecting the most energy-efficient wireless protocol for specific tasks
The demand for multi-protocol IoT solutions is growing rapidly. According to ABI Research, the number of multi-protocol IoT devices is expected to reach 16 billion by 2028, making it clear that seamless connectivity will be a major driver of future IoT adoption.
AI-powered wireless optimisation
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising wireless communications by enabling intelligent, real-time optimisation of connectivity. Today’s IoT devices are increasingly leveraging AI-powered wireless management to reduce network congestion, enhance security, and ensure seamless connectivity.
There are many ways AI improves IoT connectivity. Predictive network management is one of the biggest areas where AI brings big benefits. AI can analyse past network performance to anticipate congestion, optimise bandwidth usage, and improve reliability. AI allows devices to seamlessly transition between Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 5G networks without interrupting the user experience. These intelligent handovers ensure seamless and optimised connectivity.
Another area where AI brings improvements is with automated device pairing. AI simplifies the setup process, enabling IoT devices to connect instantly to the most optimal network with minimal user intervention.
AI-powered wireless solutions are particularly critical for industrial IoT (IIoT) environments, where real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance through anomaly detection, and automated decision-making require highly reliable, low-latency connectivity. In consumer applications, AI-driven wireless optimisation is enhancing smart home ecosystems, wearables, and automotive connectivity, making them more intuitive and responsive.
By embedding AI into connectivity modules, future IoT devices will be able to self-optimise, predict failures before they happen, and adapt to dynamic environments—ensuring more stable, energy-efficient, and seamless communication.
Software-Defined Wireless Systems (SDWS)
The shift from hardware-defined to software-defined wireless systems (SDWS) is reshaping how devices communicate. Traditionally, wireless connectivity was built into dedicated hardware, making it difficult to update, reconfigure, or adapt after deployment. But software-defined wireless systems (SDWS) are changing the game by enabling flexible, dynamic, and future-proof connectivity solutions.
Some ff the benefits SDWS brings to IoT include:
- Adoption of new wireless standards via software updates – instead of requiring costly hardware modifications, IoT devices can receive over-the-air (OTA) updates to support evolving protocols like Bluetooth 6, Wi-Fi 7, or next-gen cellular standards
- Stronger cybersecurity – security vulnerabilities can be patched quickly through software updates, making IoT ecosystems more secure
- Extended device lifespan – manufacturers can continue to improve connectivity and add features without requiring new hardware, reducing electronic waste and improving sustainability
Automotive connectivity is a good example of an application area seeing a major transformation with software-defined technology. Modern vehicles rely on wireless communication for navigation, OTA updates, and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) networking. Software-defined connectivity allows automakers to enhance in-car wireless performance, improve safety features, and introduce new services via software updates—without requiring new hardware installations.
As IoT ecosystems become more complex, software-defined networking will be essential for ensuring adaptable, secure, and future-proof connectivity across industries.
Wireless Sensing – beyond connectivity
Wireless technologies were originally designed to connect devices to each other and the internet, but they are now being leveraged for sensing movement, presence, breathing, and other environmental factors. Wireless sensing is emerging as a breakthrough in healthcare, security, safety, and even entertainment, using existing wireless signals to detect and interpret changes in surroundings.
Wireless sensing operates in several innovative ways. It begins with motion and presence detection, where wireless sensors identify movement in environments such as smart homes, offices, and industrial spaces—supporting features like automated lighting, security monitoring, and even fall detection for elderly care. It also enables precise health tracking by monitoring subtle bodily movements, including breathing patterns and heart rates, which makes it ideal for contactless health monitoring and sleep tracking. Additionally, wireless sensing supports gesture recognition, allowing devices to interpret hand gestures to create touchless interfaces, immersive gaming experiences, and interactive smart home controls.
Because wireless sensing does not rely on cameras, it ensures privacy while delivering powerful new capabilities. As sensing technology evolves, industries like healthcare, security, and entertainment will continue to adopt wireless sensing to enhance safety, convenience, and user experiences.
The expansion of IoT beyond traditional devices
IoT connectivity is no longer confined to smart homes, wearables, and industrial automation—it is expanding into new, high-impact sectors. As wireless technologies evolve, we are seeing IoT connectivity play a critical role in smart cities, healthcare, and next-generation mobility solutions.
Key areas where IoT is making a major impact:
- Smart infrastructure and cities – IoT-enabled traffic management, energy-efficient lighting, and real-time environmental monitoring are transforming urban environments
- Healthcare and remote patient monitoring – wearable IoT devices are improving patient care by tracking vitals, detecting early signs of illness, and enabling remote diagnostics
- Industrial IoT (IIoT) and smart manufacturing – IoT-powered predictive maintenance, AI-driven robotics, and connected supply chains are increasing efficiency and reducing downtime in factories
- Connected and autonomous vehicles – smart connectivity is driving the future of self-driving cars, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, and enhanced road safety
As IoT continues to expand into these new domains, the demand for reliable, scalable, and energy-efficient wireless solutions will continue to grow. Companies that invest in cutting-edge connectivity technologies will be well-positioned to lead the next wave of IoT innovation.
The future of connectivity is intelligent, adaptive and seamless
The future of IoT connectivity lies in multi-protocol wireless integration, AI-powered optimisation, software-defined networking, wireless sensing and the expansion of IoT into new industries. As smart environments become more complex, companies that embrace next-generation wireless solutions can deliver more reliable, efficient, and intelligent IoT solutions.
At Ceva, we are at the forefront of enabling seamless, future-proof IoT connectivity through our comprehensive wireless IP portfolio. Our solutions power billions of connected devices worldwide, helping deliver smarter, more intuitive IoT experiences with enhanced interoperability, security, and efficiency.
Franz Dugand is the Senior Director of Product Marketing at Ceva. With over 25 years of experience, he is in charge of expanding the Ceva Wireless IoT product lines into various market segments such as mobile, consumer electronics, gateway, healthcare, automotive, industrial and other IoT applications
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