Global M2M connections are on target to hit a quarter of a billion this year, up from 195 million in 2013, according to a new study by GSMA Intelligence.

The analyst firm claims the numbers reflect how mobile operators have started to scale M2M deployments across a number of vertical sectors.

Connections grew at a CAGR of 38 per cent between 2010 and 2013.

M2M accounted for 2.8 per cent of all mobile connections in the world at the end of 2013, twice the 1.4 per cent figure logged in 2010.

“We are now living in a world where every device, machine or appliance can be wirelessly connected to the internet, providing a wealth of real-time information that can transform how people live and work. For mobile operators, connecting ‘machines’ to their networks is now a major focus area, “ said Hyunmi Yang, the GSMA’s chief strategy officer.

She said the opportunity for operators encompasses not just connections but also developing capabilities that reduce fragmentation and encourage new services. She gave the example of defining cross-vertical solutions in network APIs, device management, security and big data as areas where operators can drive the M2M market.