Digital 7 is needed to maintain and expand connectivity, as well as how they can work together to share each other's experiences and to develop standards together. Citing a Cisco figure, the D5 expects over 50 billion internet connected devices to be in use around the world by 2020, with as many as dozens of each device in every household. To meet these needs, the UK government's focus will be on Machine to Machine technology, the Internet of Things and 5G mobile networks. In March 2014, they announced they will be investing £45 million in the Internet of Things. They have set
Smart Cell Smart Cell Smart Cells are innovative ubiquitous radio access nodes that provide wireless connectivity across multiple spectrum ranges and technologies. As of January 2014, Macrocells, Small Cells, and Wi-Fi connections were the primary means of data connectivity. For these types of cells, the spectrum utilized is static and is based on the antenna installed. "A Smart Cell may transmit multiple frequencies and technologies which are controlled by the software and not the hardware" (antenna). Smart Cells are currently in the research and development stage but support software-defined networks which are proliferating the current mobile network structure, led by AT&T's adoption.