Wi-SUN

Global Deployment of Wi-SUN Devices (2025) and Forecasts Toward 2030

Number of Wi-SUN Devices Worldwide in 2025
Wi-SUN (Wireless Smart Ubiquitous Network) has rapidly grown into a leading IoT communication standard for outdoor networks. According to industry data, there are already more than 100 million Wi-SUN devices in operation worldwidemdpi.com. Back in 2019, the number was estimated at over 91 million units globallymarkets.businessinsider.com, and this figure has continued to rise in line with large-scale rollouts of smart meters and sensor networks. For example, Japan alone has installed over 50 million smart electricity meters based on Wi-SUNmdpi.com.

This rapid growth means that by 2025 the global number of Wi-SUN nodes will likely be in the hundreds of millions (probably around 150–200 million, based on current trends). An overview of the development looks like this:

Year – Wi-SUN Devices Worldwide (millions)

2019: ~91 markets.businessinsider.com
2022: 100+ mdpi.com
2025: ~150–200 (estimate)
2030: 500+ (forecast)

Table: Estimated number of Wi-SUN devices in operation worldwide. In 2019 there were ~91 million unitsmarkets.businessinsider.com. In 2022, the 100 million mark was surpassedmdpi.com. Forecasts toward 2030 indicate several hundred million devices (over half a billion according to the current trend).

Growth Forecasts Toward 2030

Market analysts predict strong growth for Wi-SUN-based systems over the coming decade. Based on today’s deployments and planned projects, the number of devices is expected to continue increasing by around 20–25% per year on average.

For example, Rethink Research estimates ~20% annual growth (CAGR) for the Wi-SUN ecosystemmarkets.businessinsider.com, and Allied Market Research projects a similar growth rate of ≈21.7% per year through 2030alliedmarketresearch.com.

At such a pace, the installed base of Wi-SUN devices could multiply several times during the 2020s. In fact, forecasts suggest we may reach over 500 million Wi-SUN devices globally by 2030, given the current trajectorymarkets.businessinsider.comalliedmarketresearch.com.

This strong growth is supported by increasing IoT investments in smart infrastructure and the standardization of Wi-SUN technology. The Wi-SUN market value is also expected to rise significantly – from about $1.5 billion (2020) to over $10 billion by 2030, according to Allied Market Researchalliedmarketresearch.com – reflecting the explosive increase in both devices and applications.

Key Applications and Industries Driving Growth

Smart Grids and Metering (Energy Sector)
Energy companies and power grids are by far the largest sector for Wi-SUN. The technology is used in smart electricity metering systems (AMI) and grid automation. Wi-SUN is considered a key standard for smart grids thanks to its long range and scalability to millions of nodes.

In Japan, for example, over 50 million Wi-SUN-based electricity meters have already been installed to automatically collect consumption datamdpi.com. Major utilities in Europe and the U.S. have also implemented Wi-SUN for advanced metering infrastructure and distribution automation (e.g., remote reading, load control, and fault monitoring)markets.businessinsider.com.

This segment dominated the Wi-SUN market in 2020 and is expected to maintain its lead going forward, driven by the need for smart grids and more efficient energy managementalliedmarketresearch.com. The rollout of smart meters, EV charging, and renewable energy integration continues to boost Wi-SUN demand in power networks.

Smart Cities and Infrastructure
Urban networks and municipal infrastructure represent another major application. Wi-SUN is used in smart cities to connect sensors and control systems across large outdoor areas.

A prominent example is connected street lighting – Wi-SUN enables wireless control and monitoring of thousands of streetlights and traffic signals with high reliability. Cities such as London, Copenhagen, Glasgow, Paris, and Miami have already implemented Wi-SUN networks for such purposesmarkets.businessinsider.com.

The technology is regarded as a top choice for large-scale city IoT projects because it can handle high node density in harsh outdoor environments and is interoperable between different vendors’ equipmentmarkets.businessinsider.com.

Beyond lighting, Wi-SUN is used in smart cities for environmental sensors (air quality, noise, flood monitoring), parking (smart meters), and public safety. The global urbanization trend and investments in “smart city” solutions are driving greater adoption of Wi-SUN in the municipal sector toward 2030.

Industrial IoT and Automation
Wi-SUN adoption is also growing in industrial and automation use cases. In Industrial IoT, Wi-SUN connects sensors and equipment across large facilities, industrial sites, or agricultural areas.

The technology offers high robustness and security in interference-prone environments, attracting sectors such as manufacturing, oil & gas, agriculture, and logistics. Analysts note that Wi-SUN is already being used for distribution automation, smart agriculture (e.g., irrigation sensors), structural health monitoring, and environmental monitoringprweb.com.

While the industrial segment is currently smaller than energy and city applications, it is expected to grow quickly in the coming years as mission-critical IoT needs expand. The benefits of mesh networks (self-healing, long range without base stations) and stronger security compared to some LPWAN technologies make Wi-SUN attractive for industrial players.

New business models and interest from the telecom sector in exploring Wi-SUN for certain private networks are also mentioned as potential driversmarkets.businessinsider.com.

Summary

Wi-SUN technology already has a significant global base with over 100 million devices in operation and continues to expand rapidly. By 2030, forecasts point to a multi-fold increase to several hundred million Wi-SUN nodes globally, with an annual growth rate of around 20–25%.

Growth is driven primarily by smart grids (smart meters, electricity distribution), smart cities (street lighting, urban sensors), and industrial IoT. Industry statistics and market reports highlight that Wi-SUN is becoming one of the most widely adopted wireless IoT networks for large-scale, critical infrastructure projectsmarkets.businessinsider.comalliedmarketresearch.com.

With its open ecosystem and interoperability, Wi-SUN is expected to remain a key enabler for IoT connectivity in energy and city infrastructure well into the 2030s.

Sources: Public industry reports and analyses from Wi-SUN Alliance, market research firms including Navigant Research, Rethink Research, and Allied Market Researchmarkets.businessinsider.commarkets.businessinsider.comalliedmarketresearch.com, as well as scientific articles and case studies on Wi-SUN implementationsmdpi.commdpi.com. These sources confirm the figures and trends described for the global deployment and usage of Wi-SUN devices.