Shaping the future: connectivity trends and technologies
Long distance communication has come a long way in a short time, making rapid progress from the telegraph wires of the 19th century to today’s seamless, high speed networks. Early communication systems connected towns and cities, but lightning fast fibre optics and wireless networks now span oceans, link continents and even reach into space. The evolution of this digital infrastructure has allowed us to share data instantly, and makes it possible to reach virtually anyone, anywhere, in real-time.
As technology pushes the boundaries of speed, capacity and global reach, businesses must adapt to stay competitive. Critical components like data connectors – which enable seamless data flow across devices and networks – are fundamental to this new phase of global connectivity. These connectors support trends such as next generation mobile networks, increased data centre demands, and smart devices, providing companies with the resilient, adaptable infrastructure needed to navigate an increasingly complex digital landscape.
More connections, more data, more power
A current major trend is the rapidly growing Internet of Things (IoT), which sees smart technologies embedded into everyday objects, allowing them to communicate and share data autonomously. Imagine a world in which your home, car and office collaborate seamlessly to optimise your day – adjusting lighting, central heating systems and traffic routes based on your schedule. Smart home devices could automatically order groceries or turn off appliances when not in use, real-time sensors could monitor crop health and soil conditions in agricultural settings, and factories could benefit from predictive maintenance, improving downtime and enhancing productivity. IoT capabilities make everyday tasks simpler and more efficient, integrating technologies within various sectors to save time and conserve energy.
However, the growth of the IoT also brings new challenges, particularly around bandwidth and power efficiency. Each new connected device increases data flow and demands a greater network capacity, making robust and efficient connectivity solutions essential. The expansion of IoT applications therefore needs faster, robust and more resilient connectivity solutions that are capable of supporting millions of devices simultaneously.
The rise of 6G and beyond
Fortunately, 6G – the next generation of mobile technology – promises ultra-fast speeds and minimal latency to support this increasingly connected ecosystem. The rollout of 5G in 2019 has already fuelled rapid growth in mobile communications, data computing, autonomous vehicles, IoT and smart devices. As a result, global mobile network data traffic surged by 40 % from 2021 to 2022, reaching a staggering 118 exabytes per month.1
6G is set to take this connectivity even further, and it is not far away, with an anticipated launch date as early as 2028.1 Unlike the previous generation of networks, 6G aims to reach data speeds in the terabits per second range and reduce latency to microseconds, enabling applications requiring near-instantaneous data exchange.2 The benefits of these features extend beyond faster downloads – 6G will enable interconnected, intelligent systems that operate autonomously and efficiently. It will support complex applications across artificial intelligence (AI), IoT and real-time immersive experiences,3 transforming sectors from healthcare to entertainment. Furthermore, 6G networks are expected to offer robust connectivity even in challenging environments – such as densely populated urban areas or remote regions – due to advanced technologies like network slicing and mesh networking.
Scaling up data centres for tomorrow's demand
These anticipated developments are set to place unprecedented demand on data centres, pushing these facilities to manage, process and store massive data volumes with real-time responsiveness and high speed efficiency. Data centres form the backbone of our digital world – housing essential servers, storage systems and networking equipment – and are therefore vital to supporting improved connectivity. As more devices connect to IoT ecosystems and 6G speeds elevate data transfer rates, data centres will need to scale up by expanding storage, optimising data routing and bolstering data security.
Managing these demands will require significant infrastructure improvements, especially in areas like data centre heat management to handle the energy generated by intensive computing workloads. Effective cooling systems, heat-resistant connectors and other energy-efficient solutions will therefore be essential for maintaining the operational stability of these critical data processing facilities.
Robust connections in challenging environments
Digital transmissions travel from a data centre to users around the world through a complex network of fibre optic cables, wireless systems and satellites. Data connectors – designed for durability and resilience – are essential at every stage of this journey, especially in extreme environments like deep-sea cables and space-based satellite links.
Nearly 99 % of international data travels via undersea fibre optic cables, supporting everything from internet browsing to critical financial transactions.4 These cables stetch over 1.4 million kilometres along the ocean floor,1 relying on light signals to deliver high capacity, low latency data. Satellite links, in contrast, serve remote and rural areas where cables are impractical, transmitting data over vast distances from space to ground-based stations and connecting hard-to-reach locations.
How can Bulgin help you navigate the future of connectivity?
Bulgin provides a wide range of highly resilient, high performance connectors designed to support seamless data transfer across diverse and challenging environments. Engineered to withstand extreme conditions – whether high temperatures, moisture or physical pressure – these connection solutions ensure durability and reliability in the harshest settings. Whether they are being used for industrial automation, transportation or remote communications, Bulgin’s connectors provide the efficiency and safety required for continuous, secure data flow.
References
1)Sharon Mazzaro, GMD. The next generation of connectivity: 4 future trends in telecommunications. Materion. 2024. https://www.materion.com/en/insights/blog/the-next-generation-of-connectivity-4-future-trends-in-telecommunications
2)MacLean, K. Beyond 5G: Anticipating the impact of 6G on data centers, DataBank. 2024. https://www.databank.com/resources/blogs/beyond-5g-anticipating-the-impact-of-6g-on-data-centers/
3)Four big trends to keep an eye on if you are in the connectivity business. Business Models Inc. https://www.businessmodelsinc.com/en/inspiration/blogs/four-big-trends-to-keep-an-eye-on-if-you-are-in-the-connectivity-business
4)Brake, D. Submarine cables: Critical infrastructure for global communications. Information Technology & Innovation Foundation. 2019. http://www2.itif.org/2019-submarine-cables.pdf