IoT Connectivity Solutions

Types of IoT Connectivity

4G LTE

4G LTE offers from medium to high data rates depending on which modem you choose. Most IoT projects only require CAT4 speeds, whereas some require high speed CAT12 to CAT19 or CAT20. 4G has improved capacity over previous 3G technologies in terms of speed and reliability. The Higher category of modem the faster the speeds. 

Maximum Speeds: 4G LTE CAT4 can reach maximum theoretical speeds of 150 Mbps, and 4G LTE+ CAT6 up to 300 Mbps. CAT12 offers speeds up to 600 Mbps and CAT19 up to 1500 Mbps.  

Key Features: Medium data rates, shorter battery life compared to LPWAN technologies, widely used.
Use Cases: Suitable for applications requiring medium to high data rate transmission such as CCTV, Digital Signage, Renewable Energy and Transportation. 

Cellular LPWAN (Low Power Wide-Area Network)

Cellular LPWAN is for long-range communications with low power requirements. With the 3G sunset by 2025 over 50% of IoT connections will use LPWAN. LPWAN is intended for IoT devices that transmit small data packets over long distances without requiring much power. 

LPWAN is split between Licenced spectrums such as LTE-M and NB-IoT and unlicenced services such as Sigfox and LoRa. 

Key Features: Operates on licensed and unliceneced spectrum, large coverage area, and designed for IoT applications with minimal mobility.

Use Cases: Ideal for stationary IoT applications such as metering, sensor monitoring, and asset tracking where data packets are small and not frequently transmitted

LTE-M (CAT-M1)

LTE-M, also known as LTE Cat-M1, is a type of LPWAN technology specifically designed for IoT applications which will likely directly replace 3G and some 2G services. It supports lower data rates, extended battery life, and better coverage indoors and in rural areas compared to 4G LTE and is broadly akin to 3G.

Key Features: Supports mobility, meaning devices can move and switch between towers like a traditional mobile devices, and supports voice over network (VoIP) capabilities, and has a higher data rate compared to NB-IoT.

Use Cases: Useful for mobile IoT applications such as tracking devices, wearables, and healthcare monitoring devices.

NB-IoT (CAT-M2) Narrowband IoT

NB-IoT stands for “Narrowband IoT” and is also known as Cat-M2. It’s a type of LPWAN technology that uses a different technology (DSSS modulation) compared to LTE radios and is not deployed in the LTE band. This technology is optimized for applications that require only small amounts of data to be transmitted infrequently. 

Key Features: Low energy usage. Deepest and furthest coverage. Low cost of ownership for mass IoT deployment. Does not support device mobility as efficiently as LTE-M.

Use Cases: Suitable for fixed IoT applications like smart metering, smart parking, and environmental monitoring where high connection density is required

LTE-CAT1

LTE-CAT1 is a category within the LTE specification that supports lower data rates compared to the typical 4G LTE. It is designed for IoT applications that require a combination of low/medium data rates, low cost, and longer battery life.

Key Features: Offers a balance between speed and power consumption, making it suitable for IoT devices that require more data throughput than NB-IoT or LTE-M but still need to maintain power efficiency. Coverage is the same as 4G LTE.

Use Cases: Can be employed in scenarios where 2G networks are being phased out and where a bit more data is required than what NB-IoT or LTE-M can provide, such as certain types of vehicle tracking, wearable devices, or medical alert systems

5G SA & NSA

5G is the is the “Fifth Generation Long-Term Evolution” and offers greater data speeds and lower latency than 4G LTE. Data speeds on 5G can well exceed 1Gbps. 5G signal has a much reduced distance and penetration than 4G, 3G, 2G, and cellular LPWAN technologies.
Currently the vast majority of 5G rollout has been NSA, which is in effect enhanced 4G LTE. The full benefits of 5G SA with ultra-low latency and very high speeds of 10Gbps+ are yet to be full realised for IoT applications.

Key Features: Offers the highest speeds of any cellular technology with reduced latency and the ability to connect larger numbers of devices.  Most suitable for applications that require high data speeds without the need for power efficiency.

Use Cases: Where 4G does not provide enough speed or reliable latency for applications that are mission critical as well as for applications such as gaming, augmented reality or edge computing.