PR Trade Show Vibes: IoT Tech Expo 2026: From Pilot to Scale

Olympia, London

February 4-5, 2026

Attendees: 8,000 pre-event figure (70% senior decision-makers or budget holders)
Exhibitors/technology providers: 150+
Speakers: 200+

Incorporates co-located expos: IoT Tech Expo, AI & Big Data Expo, Cyber Security Expo, Digital Transformation Expo, Data Centre Expo, and Intelligent Automation Expo

As connectivity matures, a new set of industry questions emerge

At IoT Expo 2026 in London last week, a consistent message emerged that AI and IoT are now shifting from hype to reality. In speaker sessions and floor conversations, attendees heard that the tech works but scaling globally is the next real test. Echoes from CES last month showed connectivity was becoming built-in at the device level. The challenge now is how to move projects from pilot to production with AI adoption.

WebProNews captured the dilemma perfectly, highlighting the need for IoT projects to break out from ‘pilot purgatory.’ As deployments expand, enterprises must manage security, device lifecycles, connectivity and policy across increasingly complex business and global environments.

London made one thing clear: IoT technology is working, but scaling it requires greater collaboration, interoperability and operational maturity. This opens the door for cross-industry discussions, while raising questions, including:

What are the business challenges of scaling AI and IoT?

For many organizations, scaling AI and IoT is no longer a technical challenge but an operational one. As companies move projects beyond initial deployments, they must integrate legacy infrastructure to remove silos, the need for manual intervention, and cybersecurity risks. This was discussed in the ‘Scaling the Edge’ panel, in which Edith-Clare Hall of ARIA and Matthew Howard from IEEE Robotics & Automation Society shared lessons on the operational complexity arising when disparate systems attempt to communicate.

One event goer commented that Jane Smith, Field Chief Data & AI Officer at ThoughtSpot, had inspired by showing ‘how AI becomes powerful only when data is truly accessible, trusted, and embedded into everyday decision-making across the business.’ Integrating legacy systems, managing multiple connectivity standards and aligning security policies across regions are now core business challenges, not just IT issues. Organizations that prioritize flexibility and interoperability in their technology choices will be best positioned to scale.

Will closed ecosystems slow global scale?

Deployments at scale also mean infrastructure can no longer act as a constraint. Jenny Jones, Associate Director at Brands2Life, explained the problem, noting, “Discussions around 5G, Wi‑Fi 6, LEO satellites and eSIM weren’t about speeds and feeds, but about how to keep millions of devices reliably online and across borders.” These comments reflect a wider transition towards reliability, resilience and global interoperability.

The WPN article noted that the proliferation of connectivity options, from 5G and LTE-M to LoRaWAN, satellite IoT, and Wi-Fi 6E, has given enterprises more choices than ever. But that abundance of choice has also introduced new complexity.

Event discussions also pointed to the growing importance of hybrid connectivity models, with Global mobile Suppliers Association GSA’s hot takes from panel discussions on the morning of day two including: ‘hybrid networks, combining indoor and outdoor 5G along with NTN, will hold the key to future ubiquitous connectivity’, and ‘partnerships between MNOs, satellite operators and IoT device manufacturers are even more important now that NTN connectivity has hit the “hockey stick” growth curve.’

As projects scale, infrastructure cannot be a barrier, as it becomes increasingly critical. Does this mean that infrastructure providers that rely heavily on proprietary ecosystems will struggle to support globally scalable deployments? More open, interoperable ecosystems may accelerate scale by enabling enterprises to operate across regions, networks and technologies without friction.

Can security still be treated separately?

The event’s commentary highlights the need for security to follow connectivity and become embedded by design. With billions of devices coming online, the pressure is on to maintain security, meaning device lifecycle management must be simplified.

Regulatory pressure and cross-border data requirements are also pushing organizations towards more unified, lifecycle-based security models. This places new operational and regulatory demands on both technology providers and enterprises to manage connected environments holistically.

Is collaborative connectivity the answer?

No single provider can deliver global connectivity. As a result, there is now growing potential for open partnerships to emerge between telcos, satellite providers, clouds and OEMs to create an ecosystem with connectivity everywhere.

The move to standardized interoperable networks will reduce risks and costs for device vendors and customers. In fact, in such a globally connected market, competitive advantage may increasingly come from ecosystem integration rather than proprietary control.

From conversation to collaboration

Events such as IoT Tech Expo demonstrate the growing need for alignment across the connected technology ecosystem. Last week’s discussions showed the potential for device manufacturers, telcos, satellite providers, IoT platforms and policymakers to work together to enable scalable, secure and interoperable connected services.

Identifying the right industry forums and partnerships is becoming increasingly important to ensure brand voices are heard. IoT Tech Expo is just one of the forums where these conversations are taking place. As 2026 unfolds, a growing calendar of global events will shape how connected ecosystems evolve.

Working with Calysto Communications, we can help your organization identify the moments, meetings and audiences that matter to you, ensuring that your messages are part of the conversations shaping the future of the connected world.

Connectivity News

Recent press announcements support themes from the event and include:

Aeris surpassing 100 million connected devices
The Netmore Group’s acquisition of Actility to create the world’s largest LoRaWAN network, with more than 14 million contracted IoT devices.
Telenor confirms milestone of more than 30 million connected IoT devices deployed globally
A collaboration between Nokia and Telit Cinterion to provide mission-critical communication and edge intelligence for AI-powered industrial operations.
A partnership between WiseTech Global and Hapag-Lloyd to trial IoT technology for real-time container visibility.
Anritsu has secured certification from Skylo to allow its testing programs to validate IoT devices for satellite-based networks.
Anritsu is also collaborating with Valeo to create virtual digital twin testing tools that let auto manufacturers validate connectivity and software in software-defined vehicles in the cloud.