Internet of Things (IoT) Connectivity in 6G: An Interplay of Time, Space, Intelligence, and Value

Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity has a prominent presence in the 5G wireless communication systems. As these systems are being deployed, there is a surge of research efforts and visions towards 6G wireless systems. In order to position the evolution of IoT within the 6G systems, this paper first takes a critical view on the way IoT connectivity is supported within 5G. Following that, the wireless IoT evolution is discussed through multiple dimensions: time, space, intelligence, and value. We also conjecture that the focus will broaden from IoT devices and their connections towards the emergence of complex IoT environments, seen as building blocks of the overall IoT ecosystem.