What are the key drivers of IoT in Australia?
The implementation of 5G internet across Australia is reflected by the major telco operators increasing their 5G availability. Faster mobile internet supports the growth of IoT through enhanced mobile broadband, massive machine-to-machine communications, and ultra-reliable, low latency communications (URLLC). In an Australian context, this has many implications, from IoT sensors in the agriculture industry to improving manufacturing processes.Complementing the greater connectivity of devices is the cloud computing market. Aside from IT and technical fields, the mining industry is also one of the leading paid cloud computing services users in terms of share of businesses. With the integration of IoT technology already common across many industries, cloud storage is becoming increasingly important. In 2021, Australia had over 270 cloud data centers, among the highest number in the world.
Challenges to the digital revolution
Data collection is one of the necessities of IoT technology. However, the management of this data can lead to some challenges relating to data security and privacy. The privacy of personal information and data was very important when choosing a digital service in Australia among all age groups. When considering off-site data storage, factors that limited the use of paid cloud computing by businesses included insufficient knowledge, high costs, and the risk of a security breach.Two key laws protect Australian consumers when using cloud services: the Privacy Act and Australian Consumer Law (ACL). The former regulates how most businesses handle personal information while the latter protects consumers against unfair contractual terms and conditions and misleading representations among other protections. Most Australians, however, are not aware of the current online privacy laws in place in the country.
In September 2020, the Australian Government implemented a voluntary, principles-based IoT Code (Code of Practice: Securing the Internet of Things for Consumers). As consumer data protection becomes more prevalent in regard to IoT and cloud technology, a shift towards a mandatory IoT standard looks likely.
