Wireless Technologies for IoT: LPWAN, NB-IoT, and Sigfox

The (IoT) took many industries to the next level with device capabilities to interconnect with the system for communication and data sharing. It is very important to mention that wireless technologies are acting as enablers of these connections. Among the major wireless technologies for IoT, one should underline Low Power Wide Area Networks along with Narrowband IoT and Sigfox. These technologies were developed on the basis of principles to support IoT devices operating on low power, offering extended coverage and featuring low data rates. As such, these technologies are quite suitable for application in smart cities, environmental monitoring, asset tracking, and even industrial automation. The LPWAN, NB-IoT, and Sigfox are described in this essay based on their features, use cases, advantages, and limitations.

What is NB-IoT?

NB-IoT, or Narrowband IoT, is a Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) technology type. It's designed for lot devices and operates within the licensed frequency spectrum. When comparing NB-IoT vs. LoRa vs. Sigfox, NB-IoT stands out with its powerful features and benefits.

1. Smart Power Consumption: NB-IoT devices have excellent power efficiency, which results in longer battery life, often up to 10 years. It makes them ideal for applications where frequent battery replacement is not feasible.

2. Deep Coverage: NB-IoT provides superior indoor and underground coverage. It is a key advantage for smart meters and parking sensor applications.

3. High Capacity: NB-IoT can support many devices in a small area, making it ideal for dense loT deployments.

4. Secure and Reliable: NB-IoT operates in a licensed spectrum, which provides more reliable, interference-free service. It also has solid security measures in place.

5. Network Availability: As NB-IoT uses existing mobile network infrastructure, it enjoys wide availability and can leverage ongoing advancements in cellular technology.

These networks play a significant role in the world of smart applications. However, the best-fit choice will depend on your loT project's specific needs. NB-IoT's features align well with applications that require secure, reliable connectivity, deep coverage, and longevity.

1. LPWAN stands for Low Power Wide Area Network

Overview: LPWAN is a category of wireless communication technologies. These technologies were developed with the purpose of having long-range connectivity with low power consumption and low data rates. In general, LPWAN is the best fit in any type of IoT use cases that involve having battery-powered devices and large area communications, normally in kilometers of range. LPWAN operates on both licensed and unlicensed frequency bands. The two most popular LPWAN technologies are Sigfox and LoRaWAN.

Key Features

Long Range: LPWAN enables communication over a long distance, usually from 5 to 20 kilometers, depending on whether it is an urban or rural environment.

Low Power Consumption: LPWAN technologies are designed with the view to prolong battery life for IoT devices, often enabling devices to work for many years with just one battery.

Low Data Rates: Typically, LPWAN will support low data rates, about 100 bps to 50 kbps. This makes the technology suitable for those IoT applications that send small intermittent data.

Scalability: LPWAN can support thousands of devices in a network and is highly scalable, hence very ideal for large deployments of IoT.

Narrowband - Internet of Things (NB-IoT)

Narrow Band -Internet of Things (NB-IoT) is a standards-based low power wide area (LPWA) technology developed to enable a wide range of new IoT devices and services. NB-IoT significantly improves the power consumption of user devices, system capacity and spectrum efficiency, especially in deep coverage. Battery life of more than 10 years can be supported for a wide range of use cases.

New physical layer signals and channels are designed to meet the demanding requirement of extended coverage rural and deep indoors and ultra-low device complexity. Initial cost of the NB-IoT modules is expected to be comparable to GSM/GPRS. The underlying technology is however much simpler than today's GSM/GPRS and its cost is expected to decrease rapidly as demand increases.

Supported by all major mobile equipment, chipset and module manufacturers, NB-IoT can co-exist with 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile networks. It also benefits from all the security and privacy features of mobile networks, such as support for user identity confidentiality, entity authentication, confidentiality, data integrity, and mobile equipment identification. The first NB-IoT commercial launches have been completed and global roll out is expected for 2017/18.

NB-IoT uses the same cellular infrastructure as most of thealready deployed base stations, hence minimizing additional needs for hardware investment.

Operating over licensed spectrum, it ensures a more reliable network and strong security of the network.

It supports large-scale IoT deployment, thus offering connectivity to a huge number of devices at low costs.

What is Sigfox?

Sigfox is another prominent player in the LPWAN technology space. It provides a simple, efficient, and cost-effective solution for IoT connectivity. You may want to compare these networks. But let' stalk about Sigfox's unique strengths and benefits first.

1. Low Cost: Sigfox's infrastructure and devices are inexpensive compared to other technologies, making it a cost-effective solution for many IoT applications.

2. Global Coverage: Sigfox operates in over 70 countries, making it suitable for applications that need global reach.

3. Energy Efficient: Sigfox devices consume very little power, contributing to device longevity and sustainability.

4. Small Payloads: Sigfox is ideal for applications that send small and infrequent data bursts.

5. Simple and Reliable: Sigfox's technology is simple to implement and provides reliable, albeit low-bandwidth, connectivity.

When we draw a Sigfox, and NB-IoT comparison, the second one stands out as a cost- effective and energy-efficient option, suitable for applications that require low data rates and global reach. Its simplicity and focus on sustainability are its major strengths.

Wireless technologies such as LPWAN, NB-IoT, and Sigfox have been driving up the growth curve for IoT by availing appropriate connectivity solutions matched to the peculiar needs of IoT devices. LPWAN provides options between low-power and long-range communications, NB-IoT uses the cellular infrastructure to offer reliable and secure connectivity, while Sigfox, through an ultra-narrowband radio technology approach, best fits those applications with very low data transmission requirements and long battery life. Each of these technologies has different strengths and limitations that will make them more or less suitable for different types of IoT applications. Each of these wireless technologies is going to be a critical component in the evolving IoT ecosystem for smart cities, industrial automation, and all sorts of IoT-driven innovations.