According to UnivDatos, rapid smart city investments, expansion of cellular LPWAN infrastructure by telecom operators, growing deployment of smart electricity, water, and gas meters, rising demand for low-power and long-battery-life IoT connectivity, increasing industrial IoT adoption for asset tracking and monitoring, strong government-backed digital transformation, and Industry 4.0 initiatives are driving the Southeast Asia Narrow Band IoT market. As per the “Southeast Asia Narrow Band IoT Market” report, the market was valued at ~USD 94.50 million in 2024, growing at a CAGR of about 44.50% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2033 to reach USD million by 2033.

NB-IoT is growing rapidly in Southeast Asia as countries accelerate the digitization of infrastructure, industry, and government services. NB-IoT was initially introduced in pilot projects, but it is now in its wider phase of commercial application. It is highly relevant to large-scale applications because it is designed to leverage low-power, wide-area connectivity at relatively low cost. Further, the market is inclined towards technology experimentation and long-term growth and sustainability.

Growth of IoT Deployments

The expansion of IoT deployments has become a significant driver of the NB-IoT market, with businesses and governments increasingly dependent on internet-connected devices to enhance operational effectiveness and transparency. The increased use of sensors in utilities, transportation, manufacturing, and urban environments is driving long-term demand for low-power, wide-area connectivity. Also, NB-IoT meets the requirements for high-quality communication with a large number of devices at low operating costs. Moreover, the growth of digital transformation programs is driving device adoption in Southeast Asia. With the increasing size of the IoT ecosystems, NB-IoT can be used as a base connectivity layer enabling infrastructure to be modernized over the long term.

For example, on November 27, 2025, Myriota, a global leader in space-enabled Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Telkomsat, one of Indonesia’s satellite service providers, to bring its IoT connectivity and solutions platform to the region.

On May 23, 2025, global AI Cloud platform service provider Tuya Smart, T3 Technology, and Skyworth successfully co-hosted the Global Telecom AIoT Summit 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand. Under the theme "New Era of Intelligence for All Industries", the summit aimed to deliver cutting-edge smart solutions across industries, accelerate Southeast Asia’s digital transformation, and create new market opportunities for global developers.

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Shift from Pilot Projects to Commercial Rollouts

The transition from pilot projects to commercial implementations is becoming a trend in the NB-IoT market, with initial efforts demonstrating technical and economic feasibility. The companies and government departments are shifting towards mass-scale deployments of utilities, transport, and infrastructure. This shift is enabled by the increased network coverage, decreased prices of devices, and a better understanding of the payback. Moreover, the standardized solutions are also being facilitated through commercial rollouts as opposed to customized pilots. This is leading to NB-IoT being integrated into digital infrastructure plans long-term instead of being seen as an experimental technology.

Expanding Role of NB-IoT in Digital Infrastructure

NB-IoT is emerging as part of the development of the digital infrastructure across Southeast Asia. NB-IoT networks are being used by governments and businesses to facilitate smart utilities, connected objects, and remote monitoring applications. The advantage of the technology is that it can link thousands of devices using less power and can provide indoor coverage. This is particularly applicable in high-density urban areas and new smart city projects where scale and efficiency are critical.

Regional Expansion and Market Scalability

Vietnam is expected to grow with a high expected CAGR during the forecast period (2025-2033). The development of NB-IoT in Vietnam is fueled by its high rate of urbanization, the growth of industrial areas, and government-initiated digital transformation programs. The increase in investment in intelligent transportation, automated manufacturing, and utility modernization is driving a strong demand for cost-effective IoT connections. Telecom operators are also expanding the NB-IoT coverage to accommodate large-scale deployment of low-cost devices. This market is biased toward solution providers and hardware vendors, with a focus on volume growth. Vietnam is also becoming one of the rapidly developing NB-IoT markets in Southeast Asia. For example, on October 24, 2025, Nokia announced the extension of its long-term partnership with Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), one of Vietnam's leading telecommunications operators, through a new agreement to upgrade and expand radio infrastructure across Vietnam. The new deal focuses on the Hanoi area, border provinces, and the southern region, marking an important step in advancing the nation’s digital connectivity.

The rising adoption of NB-IoT in Singapore aligns closely with the country's Smart Nation initiative. The technology is widely implemented across smart utilities, transportation, urban infrastructure, and environmental monitoring. The widespread cellular coverage across the country and the highly developed digital infrastructure can enable massive-scale NB-IoT implementation, enabling a rapid transition from pilot projects to commercial implementation. Adding to this, the market has been propelled by clear regulatory guidance, early adoption of technology, and enterprise readiness to integrate IoT.

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