Wireless research firm Berg Insight says the number of alarm systems and tracking devices monitored via mobile by an alarm receiving centre or similar establishment will grow from about 10 million last year to 34 million by the end of 2014. Shipments of wireless machine-to-machine modules for security applications in Europe will grow even more dramatically, from 2.3 million M2M devices in 2009 to nearly 22 million by 2014.
Wireless M2M communication is often used to track and recover stolen vehicles – but Berg Insight also points out that property alarms can use wireless solutions alongside fixed-line communications for enhanced reliability. It estimates there will be nearly 4 million alarm systems connected to wireless networks in Europe by 2014.