TheThingsConference took place once again in Amsterdam, marking what should have been its 8th edition. This year, however, the event carried a special significance: it celebrated the 10-year anniversary of TheThingsNetwork, now a yearly reference point for IoT professionals.

Traditionally, the conference has been strongly oriented toward the LoRaWan ecosystem, providing a deep dive into the technical and industrial advances surrounding it. But this year marked a shift. The organizers deliberately chose to broaden the scope, opening the stage to a wider range of IoT technologies and ecosystems. The result was an edition that felt more diverse, more dynamic, and undeniably more engaging.

With a larger audience and a wider array of perspectives, this year’s sessions offered a rich mix of technical depth and ecosystem insights. For me, the event was not only about the talks themselves, but also about taking a step back to reflect on the IoT market as a whole: how it has evolved over the past year, where it seems to be heading, and what genuinely new ideas and technologies are emerging.

As usual, this article is my way of revisiting those two intense days—sharing my key takeaways, my impressions of the conference, and my thoughts on the shifting landscape of IoT.

Roundtables and Collective Perspectives

This year’s program brought a wide range of technologies together on stage. One noticeable trend was the heavy reliance on roundtables. Personally, I am not always a fan of this format. While it certainly increases the number of speakers and broadens participation, it often comes at the expense of a clear, unified message. Each participant tends to bring their own agenda—sometimes more commercial than technical—which can dilute the impact.

That said, there was still something valuable in seeing leaders from different alliances share a common stage. Despite their individual perspectives, they conveyed a sense of collective vision for the Internet of Things. When each alliance represents hundreds of millions of devices, the combined picture—several billion devices—becomes difficult to ignore.

This scale is a powerful reminder. At times, the IoT market can feel slow-moving, giving the impression that not much is happening. Yet, as highlighted by the conference founders in their opening remarks, IoT technology has reached a plateau phase. It is no longer the “next big thing” making headlines, but rather a deeply embedded part of everyday life.

That realization was one of my key takeaways: the sheer omnipresence of IoT, the enormous scale of devices already deployed, and the understanding that IoT is less about competition and more about complementarity. As I’ve noted in past talks at TheThingsConference, the IoT ecosystem is best seen as a blue ocean—an expansive market where diverse technologies coexist and interconnect to meet vast and varied needs.

Another key takeaway tied to the maturity of the IoT ecosystem is the noticeable absence of groundbreaking announcements. In previous years, TheThingsConference often showcased new modulation techniques, manufacturing breakthroughs that reduced device costs, or entirely new categories of devices. This year, however, I didn’t come across anything particularly singular or disruptive worth highlighting.

Interestingly, I had the same impression just a week earlier at the SiDo exhibition. Identifying genuinely new trends or innovations has become increasingly difficult. The one exception might be the growing buzz around Edge AI. At SiDo, for example, we showcased Edge AI with Rtone at the STMicroelectronics booth, where the technology roadmap of the semiconductor industry helped make future capabilities tangible.

At TheThingsConference, Edge AI was represented primarily through Edge Impulse, which offered live demonstrations of its potential applications. Several other booths mentioned Edge AI in passing, but it was far from the central theme. In contrast with other industry events where AI often dominates the conversation, here it felt more like a side note than a focal point.

This absence of “wow factor” announcements is not necessarily a weakness—it may instead reflect the maturity of the market. IoT is no longer about chasing the next breakthrough; it is about consolidating technologies, refining ecosystems, and scaling deployments.

Security, Compliance, and the Rise of the CRA

One topic that stood out—both surprising and insightful—was the emphasis on the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). Scheduled to take effect in 2027, the CRA represents a major shift in European legislation, introducing strict security requirements for IoT systems. Much like the GDPR, it ties non-compliance to financial penalties based on company revenue, making it a regulatory framework that cannot be ignored.

What struck me, however, was how much more attention the CRA received compared to the Radio Equipment Directive (RED), despite the latter being far more immediate. The RED, which has been in force since early August, is arguably the most impactful regulatory development for IoT security. Non-compliance means losing the CE marking, and with it, the right to sell products on the European market. And yet, I barely heard it mentioned during the conference.

By contrast, the CRA was given almost an entire morning session. While the act does include security implications, its main focus lies in the processes that underpin IoT development: build pipelines, compilation methods, quality assurance, and lifecycle monitoring. This broader orientation suggests that the industry is already shifting its attention to compliance as a core component of IoT innovation.

From my perspective, this trend is significant. It signals that the real battleground for IoT in the coming years may not lie in raw technological breakthroughs, but in the ability to meet increasingly demanding compliance frameworks. In fact, I would not be surprised if we see a wave of new services and solutions emerge over the next two to three years to help IoT producers navigate these challenges—because compliance will soon be as critical as connectivity.

Bridging IoT and Building Automation: The Role of BACnet

Another recurring theme throughout the conference was the growing presence of BACnet—particularly in connection with LoRaWAN, though not limited to it. Across several booths, presentations, and workshops, the integration of IoT technologies into the smart building domain stood out as a significant trend.

What makes this integration interesting is the way it brings together two very different worlds. On the one hand, IoT is inherently data-driven, rooted in IT systems and analytics. On the other hand, BACnet belongs to the world of automation, with its own set of technologies, standards, and expertise. This intersection reminded me of the industrial IoT space, where the push to bring AI-driven data solutions into environments dominated by automation systems has always posed integration challenges.

The convergence of IoT and BACnet suggests major growth opportunities. Buildings are central to the pressing issues of energy management—both from a financial standpoint and an environmental one. By leveraging IoT technologies within BACnet-driven building management systems, there is a vast potential for optimization.

From what I observed, and from the discussions I had during the event, this area is ripe for innovation. It is not only about connecting devices but also about bridging two disciplines with different skill sets, mindsets, and objectives. The payoff, however, could be substantial: smarter, more efficient buildings that directly contribute to sustainability goals while unlocking new value streams.

Non-Terrestrial Networks: NB-IoT Versus LoRaWAN

The rise of Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN). This is a domain that has attracted a large number of players, from LoRaWAN-focused companies to NB-IoT specialists who had a presence at this year’s more open edition of the conference.

Last years, EchoSTAR was the dominant solution in the LoRaWAN satellite ecosystem. With its decline—accelerated by the company’s decision to sell its frequency bands to Starlink—the competitive landscape has shifted. Solutions like Lacuna are still advancing, but at a pace that feels slow compared to the broader IoT ecosystem.

In contrast, NB-IoT appears to be gaining momentum within NTN. Its advantage lies in a feature that LoRaWAN has yet to replicate: interoperability across multiple satellite constellations. Much like a mobile phone that can switch between terrestrial operators, NB-IoT devices can potentially connect across different satellite fleets. This resilience is critical because IoT devices deployed in space or remote areas are not easily accessible for servicing. The last thing users want is to be locked into a single provider whose operational issues could render their devices useless.

That said, NB-IoT is not without drawbacks. As Fabien Ferrero highlighted during his talk, the bandwidth and power requirements for NB-IoT in NTN contexts can be highly variable—and in some cases significantly weaker—than what solutions like Echostar were able to deliver. Still, despite these limitations, NB-IoT seems to be taking the lead in this emerging field. Based on the discussions I had at the conference, my impression is that NB-IoT is positioning itself as the more practical path forward, even if the ideal balance of performance and interoperability has yet to be achieved. It is also worth mentioning Kineis, which today stands as a particularly mature and compelling solution in the NTN space. Unfortunately, Kineis was not represented at this year’s edition—unsurprising, as not all IoT technologies and players can be present at a single event. Kineis has built a strong reputation for reliability, but its current commercial strategy makes it accessible only to a limited set of companies, focussing on large businesses.

Mesh Networks and the Expansion of LoRaWAN

This edition also highlighted the growing role of mesh networks—particularly LoRaWAN-based mesh solutions. Unsurprisingly, Meshtastic had a strong presence. As a rapidly growing community, it continues to play a key role in shaping the conversation around decentralized, long-range mesh communication. Neo-mesh was also represented, with dedicated talks exploring the possibilities of LoRaWAN mesh networking.

Personally, I am still looking for a third mesh solution that could achieve full compatibility with LoRaWAN networks and open. Such a development would allow seamless message propagation without breaking the broader ecosystem that already exists. These discussions are beginning to gain traction within the LoRa Alliance, which is listening in the potential of mesh as a complementary extension to LoRaWAN after proposing relay services to extend coverage.

Not all players were present in this space either. For instance, Oramanet—an interesting LoRaWAN mesh solution I am currently testing—was absent from the event. I plan to share more about those tests in the near future.

Still, it was encouraging to see mesh technology take a visible place on the agenda. It reinforces the idea that LoRa is not limited to LoRaWAN alone, and that the IoT ecosystem remains vast, diverse, and full of technological paths to explore.

Closing Thoughts: A Conference in Transition

Looking at this year’s edition from a broader perspective, I believe the shift toward a more open, technology-inclusive conference is a very positive move—one that should accelerate in the coming years. Still, some notable players were missing. Beyond Kineis, names like Sigfox, Mioty Wirepas represent alternative approaches to IoT that deserve to be showcased. Bringing these actors into the fold would strengthen the event and provide an even more comprehensive view of the ecosystem.

The format remains a strong point: this is first and foremost a technical conference, with many insightful talks and workshops. That said, there were aspects that could be improved. The balance leaned heavily toward quantity—more speakers, more roundtables—at the expense of depth. Fewer keynote sessions meant fewer groundbreaking ideas were shared, while some roundtables veered too far into commercial messaging. Similarly, while the main stage was excellent, the smaller conference rooms were undersized and difficult to access, and the session schedules were not always easy to follow.

Workshops continue to be one of the event’s highlights, offering hands-on experience. Yet they also suffered from high no-show rates, leaving empty seats in fully booked sessions. A more flexible registration approach could make these opportunities more accessible.

Attendance was reportedly higher than last year, though the overall presence of visitors did not feel dramatically stronger. Exhibitors, however, reported positive engagement and a steady flow of meaningful conversations. The challenge ahead will be to broaden the audience: beyond the IoT ecosystem itself, the conference must attract more corporate stakeholders, end-users, and developers. These groups stand to benefit greatly from exposure to IoT, and their participation would enrich the dialogue and accelerate adoption.

Despite these challenges, the spirit of TheThingsConference remains one of its greatest assets. The event continues to foster a genuine community atmosphere, both during the sessions and in the informal “off” events that encourage networking, conversations, and friendships over a beer. That sense of connection is what keeps the community vibrant and engaged year after year.

One detail that surprised me this time was the shorter evenings—past editions were known for late-night gatherings, while this year’s social activities wrapped up earlier. Perhaps it reflects a change in mood or even a sign of … I don’t know. Either way, the event was exceptionally well organized, and my thanks go to the entire team who made it happen.

TheThingsConference once again proved to be a unique moment in the IoT ecosystem. It remains a space where knowledge is shared, alliances are formed, and the industry collectively grows. I leave Amsterdam with new insights, a stronger network, and the conviction that the IoT journey—while no longer headline-grabbing—is more alive and impactful than ever.

PS – Wienke … Please make the coffee back next year 😉