)
What is the Internet of Things (IoT)? A Guide to IoT Devices
)
As technology becomes more and more interconnected, you’re going to hear a whole lot more about the Internet of Things (IoT). Here’s everything you need to know
By Virgin Media Edit
- Published
- 24 October 2025
Key Takeaways
IoT connects everyday devices like smart fridges, wearable trackers, and connected cars.
Devices uses sensors and the internet to collect data, process it, and take action automatically.
IoT makes homes, cities, healthcare, and industries more efficient by saving time, energy, and resources.
Fast, reliable broadband is essential for devices to respond instantly, stream smoothly, and stay connected.
What is the Internet of Things (IoT)?
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of physical objects that are connected to the internet and can collect, share, and exchange data. These everyday devices can collect information, communicate to each other, and take action without you needing to do anything. Examples include:
Smart fridges that remind you when food is running low
Thermostats that learn your daily routine and adjust the temperature automatically in your home
Cars that check tyre pressure and engine health
Wearable devices like smartwatches and fitness trackers that can monitor your heart rate and steps
Smart applications in cities to manage traffic, monitor air quality and energy consumption to improve infrastructure in cities
These IoT-enabled devices can communicate with each other and with central systems over the internet. Many IoT devices can communicate with your Smart home assistants, like Alexa or Google Home, letting you control lights, heating, and other smart home devices using just your voice.
For all of this to be possible, you need a strong internet connection, which is where we come in! Our superfast broadband is ideal for homes with multiple smart devices, with speeds up to 1130mbps with our gigabit broadband. If you’re unsure what you can get, use our helpful broadband postcode checker to see what’s available in your area.
Types of IoT devices
There are many types of IoT devices, and they are used in different areas of life to make things easier and more efficient. These devices are connected to the internet and can collect and share data automatically.
Smart home devices help make homes more comfortable and secure. Examples include smart thermostats that adjust the temperature automatically, smart lights that you can control from your phone, and smart security cameras that send alerts if they detect movement. Smart speakers like Alexa or Google Home let you control other smart devices using just your voice.
Wearable devices are gadgets you can wear, like smartwatches and fitness trackers. They monitor things like your heart rate, steps, sleep patterns, and even stress levels. Some smartwatches can also send messages and make phone calls, helping you stay connected without needing your phone.
IoT is improving healthcare with devices like smart blood pressure monitors and glucose meters that help patients track their health at home. Doctors can monitor patient data remotely and respond quickly if something is wrong. Some hospitals use smart beds that adjust automatically for patient comfort and to prevent bedsores.
Cities use IoT devices to improve traffic flow, reduce pollution, and save energy. Smart traffic lights can adjust their timing based on real-time traffic conditions, and smart waste bins send alerts when they need to be emptied. There are even streetlights with motion sensors can dim or brighten based on activity, helping to save electricity.
Modern cars are becoming smarter with IoT technology. Connected cars have GPS, internet access, and sensors that monitor things like tire pressure and engine health. Some cars can even drive themselves using real-time data from cameras and sensors.
How do IoT devices work?
IoT devices have built-in sensors that gather data from their surroundings, such as temperature, movement, or light, along with processors (small computers) that help them understand the data they collect.
With this technology, these objects can use wireless networks (like WiFi, Bluetooth, or cellular) to send data to other devices or a central system and receive data back. Using the example of a smart thermostat, the whole process might look something like this:
Sensing the Environment: The smart thermostat has built-in temperature sensors that continuously check the temperature in the room.
Processing the Data: The thermostat’s small computer analyses the temperature data and compares it to the settings you prefer (for example, 20°C).
Sending and receiving the data: If the temperature is too high or too low, the thermostat connects to the internet and sends data to your smartphone app, allowing you to see the current temperature.
Taking Action: If the thermostat detects that the room is too cold, it automatically turns on the heater to reach the desired temperature without you needing to do anything.
Feedback and Learning: The thermostat keeps monitoring the temperature and remembers your preferences over time, adjusting automatically to keep you comfortable. This process happens quickly and without needing you to adjust it manually every time, making your home more comfortable and energy efficient
The data collected by IoT devices can also be stored in the cloud (online servers) where it can be analysed to find patterns and improve performance.
The key to IoT is internet communication: devices gather information, process it, and act on it with you needing to do anything. This makes it possible to have smart homes, smart cities, and smarter industries by making everything more automated and connected.
Why is the Internet of Things important?
The Internet of Things (IoT) helps improve how we live, work, and interact with the world by making the technology we use more connected. You can turn off lights from your phone, adjust the temperature before you arrive home, and get alerts if someone is at your door.
IoT is also changing industries by improving how businesses operate. In healthcare, wearable devices like smartwatches can track heart rates and detect health problems early, helping doctors provide better care. Meanwhile, in factories, IoT sensors can monitor machines and detect issues before they break down, reducing downtime and saving money.
Even in farming uses IoT, with IoT-enabled devices helping farmers track soil moisture and weather conditions so they can work faster and grow more effectively.
Do you need fast internet for IoT devices?
You certainly do! A good internet speed is crucial for IoT devices because these devices rely on fast speeds to send and receive data.
IoT devices like smart thermostats, security cameras, and smartwatches need to communicate with each other and with the cloud in real-time, and a good internet connection ensures that this communication happens quickly and without delays:
A smart security camera needs fast internet to stream video smoothly and send instant alerts to your phone if it detects movements. If your internet is slow or weak, the video might freeze, or the alerts might be delayed, which could make it harder to respond to a security issue on time.
In a smart home, superfast broadband ensures lights, thermostats, and voice assistants respond immediately when you give a command. If the internet is weak, your smart light might take longer to turn on, or the thermostat might not adjust the temperature correctly.
Power your IoT devices with Virgin Media broadband
The foundation of any reliable smart home is a good internet connection. To get the best from your IoT devices, you’ll need superfast download speeds and upload speeds to make sure they can communicate effectively.
We’ve got speeds of up to 1130Mbps with our gigabit broadband, so be sure to check out all of our broadband deals to find a package that works with your home setup.
Use our broadband postcode checker to see what's available in your area.
Browse the Virgin Media range
)
)
)
)
Virgin Media services are only available in eligible Virgin Media network areas. All of the products on this page are subject to survey, network capacity and a credit check.
