Analyst firm Berg Insight predicted that the number of machine-to-machine (M2M) devices featuring cellular or satellite connectivity deployed by the oil and gas industry worldwide will grow from 0.5 million at the end of 2014 to 1.25 million units by 2019 -- a CAGR of 20.1 per cent. The split between cellular and satellite-based M2M devices at the end of the forecast period will be 0.99 million units and 0.27 million units respectively. The company noted that the oil and gas industry is characterised by remote and inaccessible facilities where wireless communication is, in many cases, the only viable option for transferring M2M data. Pipeline monitoring and tank monitoring are the top two M2M applications in the midstream and downstream segments while on-shore well field equipment is the most common wireless application in the upstream segment. Release