In a show featuring concurrent sessions and co-located events you may have the feeling of missing out on important content, but somehow serendipity does its job and so do networking opportunities in the corridors -be it for free food or the exposure to remarkable solutions-. At IOT Solutions World Congress (IOTSWC25) and Barcelona Cybersecurity Congress (BCC), AI was the ‘belle of the ball’, but spectrum and network specifications, satellite connection and quantum also took the stage as they are necessary to reduce the impact of climate change, transform the working environment and ensure cybersecurity, which should clearly be a strategic priority in these challenging times.
IoT has been adopted by a wide range of industries. But the issue of which connectivity technology to rely on remains controversial. Still in 2025. With no single IoT network offering comprehensive coverage and meeting all needs, users are left to pick and choose among diverse options. One of them is cellular. A few years ago, one of the big questions among the industry was whether 5G/6G would replace LoRaWAN and yet both are still coexisting and are probably here to stay, as IOTSWC highlighted.
That said, other technologies are poised to enhance IoT systems. Frank Zeppenfeldt and Xavier Lobao, both from the European Space Agency (ESA), emphasized that satellites can enable a truly global, real-time connectivity, while opening new possibilities in automation, data collection, and smart decision-making across the planet. But innovation takes time. “There’s no connectivity without spectrum,” said Lobao, while stressing that ESA believes in open standards.
The same occurs with quantum technologies. They have the potential to significantly enhance IoT systems, but full-scale implementation is still in the early stages. Lobao noted the developments in the field. “It’s fascinating”, he put. On the same token but on a different session, Ilya Subbotin, Senior Manager at Asset Care Western Europe, added that augmented intelligence can significantly transform the working environment. And yet changes still need to be made.
All in all, the global tech race is accelerating. US and Chinese startups are rapidly developing and deploying humanoid robots. But these systems are entering the market before clear trust, safety and ethical standards are in place. And this is problematic. Addressing the technical and organizational issues, along with governance and regulatory considerations, as well as social and ethical reflections require a comprehensive approach. Emmanuela Girardi, founder and CEO of AI Value, made it clear that this endeavor is far from straightforward.
On top of that, cybersecurity remains crucial because as we diversify our communication channels, so do cybercriminals. Cybercrime has become a global industry. Artificial Intelligence can be a powerful tool to keep us safe but also a potential threat.
At BCC, Manoel Colombani, EMEA Solution Engineer at SoSafe, identified several key trends every organization must know in this regard. He underlined that “AI innovations in the wrong hands can have devastating effects”, that “88% of employees can be profiled using publicly available data to create unique spear phish”, and that “personal identities are becoming a backdoor into corporate systems”. Therefore, “AI is becoming a new weapon”, but paradoxically it also aids in swiftly detecting threats and automating defenses. So, LLMs are part of the problem but also the solution.
Overall, the IOT Solutions World Congress and the Barcelona Cybersecurity Congress, which both convene 10,000 professionals from 105 countries, highlighted that progress is impressive, but important questions stay unresolved.
Responsible innovation requires careful consideration and, without any doubt, more events like these to ensure development without compromising speed or scale.
Article by: Anna Solana