A product hazard “enabled by connectivity is not simply a product hazard” but also a “cybersecurity risk,” said CTA in comments, posted Wednesday in docket CPSC-2018-0007 on the Consumer Product Safety Commission's review of potential safety issues and hazards associated with IoT devices (see 1803290032). Internet-connected consumer devices can give hackers “a connected entry point through a vulnerable device to a potentially vulnerable network,” said CTA. “CPSC can play a unique and valuable role with respect to the IoT, but it should not aim to do so alone,” said the group. “The agency should seek to bring its expertise regarding product safety to broader public, private, and joint public-private efforts directed at improving IoT safety and security.” It urged a “focus on product safety, rather than broader cybersecurity risks.” The Retail Industry Leaders Association agrees the commission “must take care not to conflate issues that clearly fall within the agency’s statutory authority and those that do not,” it commented. “Threat of hackers stealing personal data is real, alarming and could cause major damage to consumers,” said RILA, which represents Best Buy, Walmart and other big-box retailers. But the CPSC “has no statutory jurisdiction over privacy data and security,” it said. “That responsibility belongs to the FTC.”

AT&T said it will launch next year a narrowband IoT network operating on licensed spectrum, “to meet the growing needs of business customers for a wide range of IoT solutions” in the U.S. and Mexico. The NB-IoT network will complement AT&T’s existing IoT network -- called LTE-M for LTE Cat M (see 1705180058), the carrier said Wednesday. “NB-IoT and LTE-M offer longer battery life, coverage extension, and lower costs than traditional cellular LTE connectivity,” AT&T said. “NB-IoT is ideally suited to meet basic data requirements, while LTE-M provides more robust capabilities including bandwidth for firmware and software updates, mobility and VoLTE (Voice over LTE).”

FTC Consumer Protection Bureau staffers warned the Consumer Product Safety Commission Friday about what they view as widespread cybersecurity flaws in a range of IoT devices. They responded to a March request for comment on potential safety issues and hazards for IoT devices. Comments in docket CPSC-2018-0007 were due Friday evening (see 1803290032). The Cybersecurity Coalition in May urged the CPSC to address IoT cybersecurity issues “in tandem” with its device safety review, which didn't include security issues (see 1805090023). Poor security and privacy protections in IoT devices might create technology-related hazards, FTC staff said. “A car’s braking systems might fail when infected with malware, carbon monoxide detectors or fire alarms might stop working with the loss of connectivity, and corrupted or inaccurate data on a medical device might pose health risks to a user of the device. Consumers’ physical safety could also be at risk if an intruder had access to a connected lock, garage door, or burglar alarm.” Insecure devices “can erode consumer trust,” the FTC staff said. “Companies that manufacture and sell IoT devices must take reasonable steps to secure them from unauthorized access.” Staff recommended the CPSC consider how companies might provide consumers with the opportunity to sign up for communications about safety notifications and recalls for IoT devices. The product agency should take a “technology-neutral” approach to any security regulations it adopts as part of the proceeding and consider requiring IoT device makers publish any security standards, so the trade commission could act under against companies that misrepresent cybersecurity practices in a CPSC certification process, staff said.

The House Digital Commerce Subcommittee advanced by voice vote Wednesday to the full committee legislation that would direct a Department of Commerce study on the IoT (see 1805220041). “We have an obligation to do what we can to promote innovation, American competitiveness and technological advancements that benefit consumers,” said Chairman Bob Latta, R-Ohio, lead sponsor of the State of Modern Application, Research and Trends of IoT Act (HR-6302).

Ericsson forecast 20 percent of global mobile data traffic will be on 5G networks in 2023, with 3.5 billion IoT cellular connections then. The first commercial deployments of 5G are likely this year, with 50 percent of U.S. mobile subscriptions expected to be on the standard in five years, the company said Tuesday. “The forecast for cellular IoT connections has nearly doubled since November,” Ericsson said. “New massive IoT cellular technologies … are fueling this growth.”

The “colossal” IoT opportunity will drive wireless technologies to 55 percent of connectivity IC shipments this year, said IHS Markit Tuesday. “Massive IoT use cases requiring long battery life, deep coverage and mobility are fueling demand for cellular and low-power wireless.” Bluetooth and Zigbee are “entrenched in the home automation and consumer electronics segments,” and wireless in future years also will have “a huge impact on industries such as healthcare,” it said. IHS pegs 5G as the top wireless technology to watch, it said. “The move to 5G will trigger significant investment across the value chain from 2020 to 2030, with $2.4 trillion in capital expenditures during this time frame,” it said. The first 5G deployments will address enhanced broadband use cases, “but industry, not humans, will be the chief 5G driver,” it said. “Most growth in new subscriber connections will come from industrial use cases rather than consumer markets.”

The FCC's keeping census-tract licensing for the 3.5 GHz band will mean General Electric will bid on census tract priority access licenses and become a citizens broadband radio service licensee, while the company's industrial and infrastructure customers will bid on even more PALs to build out private LTE networks with GE for IoT applications, it told an aide to Commissioner Mike O'Rielly, recounted a docket 17-258 filing Friday. Industrial and infrastructure interests "will compete vigorously" in census-tract based license auctions, the company said.

The global IoT market will generate $1.1 trillion in revenue by 2025 “as market value shifts from connectivity to platforms, applications and services,” GSMA reported Wednesday. At that point, there will be more than 25 billion IoT connections, driven by growth in the industrial IoT market, with Asia-Pacific poised to become the largest global IoT region in connections and revenue, GSMA said. Carriers need to figure out how to monetize the growth in the IoT, GSMA said. “Although connectivity revenue will grow over the period, it will only account for 5 per cent of the total IoT revenue opportunity by 2025, underscoring the need for operators to expand their capabilities beyond connectivity in order to capture a greater share of market value,” said a release. “This is a challenge already being addressed by a number of operators, which are creating dedicated IoT business units and service lines.”

The first deployments of Dish Network's planned narrowband IoT network should start by year-end, with the core network installed this summer, Chairman Charlie Ergen told Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Brendan Carr in meetings recapped in an FCC docket 17-183 posting Friday. Dish said it plans to take delivery of radios for the network by fall and is identifying and acquiring tower sites. It said the first wave of installations of radios on towers in some markets will be done by year's end, with deployments to continue through 2019. The company said stand-alone 5G standardization work will go in parallel, and during completion of phase one of the IoT network, it will be upgraded and expanded to 5G. Ergen has said phase two would involve integrating 5G connectivity (see 1708030043). Dish said that during Q1, it signed lease agreements with more than a dozen tower companies and has been signing agreements with regional and nationwide vendors for site acquisition, installation and other construction services. The satellite-TV provider urged the FCC to act on a petition for rulemaking by the MVDDS (multichannel video distribution and data service) 5G Coalition seeking use of the 12.2-12.7 GHz band for 5G broadband (see 1604260068). Dish is a member of the coalition.

The House Digital Commerce Subcommittee will consider IoT legislation during a hearing at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday in 2322 Rayburn.