WHAT IS NB-IOT?
The glamorous side of IoT might be all about interconnected cars, lamps, and kitchen gadgets. But what about when we want to connect small things, over long periods, in hard to reach places?
Narrowband IoT, otherwise known as NB-IoT.
In one of our recent blog series, we delved into the world of LoRaWAN – a Long Power Wide Area Network that supports low-cost wireless communication for IoT devices over long distances. In this post, we tackle the nitty gritty of Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT, CAT-NB1) – a wireless technology that may well revolutionize the Internet of Things.
BACKGROUND OF NB-IOT ?
NB-IoT is a narrowband radio technology developed to meet the connectivity needs of the Internet of Things (IoT). Standardized last year by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), it’s hoped that NB-IoT will help in the industry’s quest to “create a connectivity fabric for everything”.
So how will it achieve this? Well, the strengths of NB-IoT lie in the fact that it can work virtually anywhere. Not only that, but it’s proven to be a simple and efficient way of connecting devices on already established cellular networks.
NB-IoT is particularly useful for handling a small amount of fairly infrequent transmission data over large distances – all with the help of a solid and interference-suppressing kind of radio transmission.
WHAT MAKES NB-IOT DIFFERENT?
Put simply, NB-IoT is a new way of communicating with the ‘Things’ that will make up IoT. In particular, the types of devices that require small amounts of data over long periods in places that are hard to get to.
But the strengths of NB IoT don’t just lie in what it can do, but how it does it. As well as being able to handle small amounts of infrequent data, NB-IoT also provides:
-Support for a huge number of low-throughput Things
-Lower component costs
-Optimized network architecture
-Reliability and security
-Long-range communications
-Good penetration coverage, including indoor coverage
-Use of existing LTE (4G) network
OPERATION MODES
IoT devices connect to the NB-IoT network in the same way as mobile devices connect to the LTE (4G) network. NB-IoT can be deployed in three different operating modes:
In one of our recent blog series, we delved into the world of LoRaWAN – a Long Power Wide Area Network that supports low-cost wireless communication for IoT devices over long distances. In this post, we tackle the nitty gritty of Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT, CAT-NB1) – a wireless technology that may well revolutionize the Internet of Things.
BACKGROUND OF NB-IOT ?
NB-IoT is a narrowband radio technology developed to meet the connectivity needs of the Internet of Things (IoT). Standardized last year by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), it’s hoped that NB-IoT will help in the industry’s quest to “create a connectivity fabric for everything”.
So how will it achieve this? Well, the strengths of NB-IoT lie in the fact that it can work virtually anywhere. Not only that, but it’s proven to be a simple and efficient way of connecting devices on already established cellular networks.
NB-IoT is particularly useful for handling a small amount of fairly infrequent transmission data over large distances – all with the help of a solid and interference-suppressing kind of radio transmission.
WHAT MAKES NB-IOT DIFFERENT?
Put simply, NB-IoT is a new way of communicating with the ‘Things’ that will make up IoT. In particular, the types of devices that require small amounts of data over long periods in places that are hard to get to.
But the strengths of NB IoT don’t just lie in what it can do, but how it does it. As well as being able to handle small amounts of infrequent data, NB-IoT also provides:
-Support for a huge number of low-throughput Things
-Lower component costs
-Optimized network architecture
-Reliability and security
-Long-range communications
-Good penetration coverage, including indoor coverage
-Use of existing LTE (4G) network
OPERATION MODES
IoT devices connect to the NB-IoT network in the same way as mobile devices connect to the LTE (4G) network. NB-IoT can be deployed in three different operating modes:
-Stand alone as a dedicated carrier: Can use GSM frequencies in a bandwidth of 200 kHz
-Guard band*: Can use a free resource block within LTE guard band.
-In-band: Can use the resource block within LTE frequency band
*Guard band is a thin band of spectrum between radio bands that is used to prevent interference.
SUMMARY
The potential of NB-IoT has already caught the eyes of major telecoms companies. Vodafone, Telenor, Telia, Orange, Sonera, and Cosmote have all launched lab and pilot projects to kickstart NB-IoT development. But those of us looking forward to seeing the technology in action will have to hold on tight – NB-IoT isn’t expected to come into public usage until the end of 2017.
The story doesn’t end there, though. Once NB-IoT gathers speed, it’ll face fierce competition from other wireless technologies, including LoRa and Sigfox. With technological needs constantly changing, LPWAN initiatives have to be ahead of the curve. All that considered, only time will tell if NB-IoT manages to make its mark.
-Guard band*: Can use a free resource block within LTE guard band.
-In-band: Can use the resource block within LTE frequency band
*Guard band is a thin band of spectrum between radio bands that is used to prevent interference.
SUMMARY
The potential of NB-IoT has already caught the eyes of major telecoms companies. Vodafone, Telenor, Telia, Orange, Sonera, and Cosmote have all launched lab and pilot projects to kickstart NB-IoT development. But those of us looking forward to seeing the technology in action will have to hold on tight – NB-IoT isn’t expected to come into public usage until the end of 2017.
The story doesn’t end there, though. Once NB-IoT gathers speed, it’ll face fierce competition from other wireless technologies, including LoRa and Sigfox. With technological needs constantly changing, LPWAN initiatives have to be ahead of the curve. All that considered, only time will tell if NB-IoT manages to make its mark.
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