The next generation of IoT connectivity
With 3G services being phased out by networks and over 50% of IoT connections predicted to use LPWAN services by 2025, we help you explore the benefits, features and use cases that will fuel this growth.
What are Low Power, Wide Area Networks?
LPWANs are a group of wireless technologies used to efficiently deliver IoT connectivity at low cost over wide geographic areas.
The complexity and costs of LPWAN deployments can be kept low due to simplified device design and long battery life (meaning no need for electrical cabling). With efficient power consumption and battery lifetime up to 10 years, management costs are also kept very low. Especially for mass deployments. Geographic coverage from each cell site is wide compared to other cellular services, and it delivers the added benefit of deep penetration into areas such as basements and underground car parks.
LPWAN technologies can be split into unlicenced services such as Sigfox and LoRa, and licenced spectrum such as Long-Term Evolution Cat-M1 (LTE-M) and NarrowBand IoT (NB-IoT).
Licenced LPWAN Services
Mobile operators across the globe are building out highly secure and standards-based LTE-M and NB-IoT networks to support the rapid growth of IoT applications. These networks will directly replace 3G services in the coming years as Mobile Network Operators phase these technologies out. Unlike previous cellular technologies, both options were designed with IoT devices in mind and are part of the LTE mobile standards.
In order to future proof deployments, new applications are now typically designed with combined modem modules that are both LTE-M / NB-IoT ready and work with existing 2G and 3G networks.
Unlicensed LPWAN Services
Technologies such as LoRa and Sigfox are proprietary and are more typically deployed in high density areas such as cities. Although they offer many of the benefits of LTE-M and NB-IoT, they do not benefit from the same level of network security, interoperability and service that cellular technologies and operators offer.
Understanding the key differences between LTE-M and NB-IoT
LTE-M (Cat-M1)
LTE-M is optimised for higher bandwidth and mobile applications, and is likely to directly replace 3G (and some 2G) services in the coming years. It delivers latency and speeds broadly equivalent to 3G, supporting firmware updates and applications from low power sensors to high bandwidth applications up to 1GB of data per month. It works well with mobile applications as connectivity is seamlessly managed between cell sites.
NB-IoT
NB-IoT is more suitable for lower-data, high-density and passive sensor applications. It has been developed to enable a wide range of IoT applications at low cost by providing a very long battery life, two-way communications and covering the deepest and widest areas. With efficient power use, batteries can have lifetimes of up to 10 years, minimising management costs and making mass deployments economically viable.
Comparing NB-IoT and LTE-M
Our 3G/2G sunset guide reviews these two licenced LPWAN technologies in further detail here.
Compare against other bearer services
It is worth noting that NB-IoT and LTE-M are not compatible for all modules. We can recommend the most suitable solution for your use case.
LPWAN Use Cases
LPWAN provide long range communication, up to 10 years’ battery life and can connect assets that would otherwise be out of reach. Use cases that are suited to these technologies include:
LTE-M and NB-IoT Network Coverage
Wireless Logic offers managed connectivity services for LTE-M and NB-IoT across 75 networks in 45 countries through our operator agnostic connectivity management platform, SIMPro.
Speak to one of our IoT solution experts to find out network coverage in your area.
Why Wireless Logic for LPWAN?
LPWAN Expertise
Knowledge and experience from our IoT experts to keep total cost of ownership low.
MNO Partnerships
Network choice and access to MNO expertise and test labs for your applications.
Ultimate Control
LTE-M and NB-IoT services fully integrated into our SIM management platform, SIMPro.
Secure
Multi-layer security that builds on the high security standards built into LTE-M and NB-IoT.
Rapid Deployment
Fast and expert deployment, customer service and tech support.
Your next step…
Talk to one of our IoT experts about your connectivity needs.
Call us on 0330 056 3300.