Wireless connectivity
The best wireless connection is not necessarily the most advanced one. In an IoT project we start by looking at what is already available, where the product will be used, how much data has to be sent and how much energy the communication may use. It might be Wi-Fi, a cellular network or satellite, and the right solution is often a combination.
Wireless connectivity
The right connection for the right place
When an IoT product has to connect to the cloud or a central server, one of the first questions is what infrastructure is already in place.
Wi-Fi, LTE and satellite
Often in combination
NB-IoT to LTE Cat 4
Chosen for the real data need
NTN
IoT directly via satellite
The whole connection
Antenna, SIM/eSIM, roaming and subscription
Wi-Fi or a connection of its own
If the product is always used in a building with stable Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi may be the most obvious solution. There are no ongoing cellular subscriptions, the data capacity is high and the technology is found in a lot of hardware. On the other hand, the product becomes dependent on the customer's network, passwords, firewalls and IT policies.
At other times it is better for the product to have its own connection. Here the cellular network is often attractive, because the product can be installed without access to the customer's IT infrastructure. But "LTE" covers several different technologies with very different characteristics.
NB-IoT – when only a little data has to be sent
NB-IoT was developed for small amounts of data, low power consumption and good range. The technology is particularly well suited to stationary devices that perhaps only send a few sensor values a few times an hour or a day.
These might be water meters, environmental sensors, agricultural sensors or installations in basements and other places where coverage can be difficult. NB-IoT and LTE-M are both standardised LPWA technologies for IoT and support power-saving mechanisms that can make many years of battery operation possible in the right application.
The drawback is limited data capacity and relatively high latency. That is why NB-IoT is not the answer for, say, streaming or applications where large amounts of data have to be moved quickly.
LTE-M – more flexibility and still low power consumption
LTE-M is also designed for IoT, but offers greater data capacity and better support for mobile products. That makes the technology interesting for trackers, mobile instruments, medtech products and other devices that move between cell towers, for example.
LTE-M also offers better options for larger data transfers, such as firmware updates. It typically uses more energy than a highly optimised NB-IoT solution, but can still be a good choice for battery-powered products.
LTE Cat 1 and Cat 1bis – a practical middle step
If more data has to be sent, LTE Cat 1, and Cat 1bis in particular, have become interesting for many IoT products.
Cat 1 offers up to 10 Mbit/s download and 5 Mbit/s upload and uses ordinary LTE networks. Cat 1bis has essentially the same data capacity, but can be designed with one receive antenna instead of two. That can make the product smaller, simpler and cheaper, although some receive sensitivity is lost at the same time.
Cat 1/Cat 1bis is a good fit for gateways, payment terminals, access control, industrial devices and other products that need to move more data than NB-IoT or LTE-M allows, but do not need full smartphone speeds.
LTE Cat 4 and above – when a lot of data has to be moved
For larger amounts of data, traditional LTE may be the right solution. Cat 4, for example, can deliver considerably more bandwidth and is used for gateways, industrial routers, video and other applications with large data needs. Cat 4 has theoretical peak rates of around 150 Mbit/s download and 50 Mbit/s upload.
On the other hand, the module, the power supply, the antenna solution and the energy consumption all typically become larger than with the dedicated IoT standards.
So the same applies as when choosing a processor: more performance is not automatically better. You should choose the communication technology that fits the real need.
When there is no cellular network
There are still large areas where ordinary cellular communication is not sufficient. These might be natural areas, farmland, offshore installations, ships, infrastructure or installations in countries with limited cellular networks.
This is where satellite communication has become far more interesting for IoT.
NTN – IoT directly via satellite
One important development is Non-Terrestrial Networks, NTN. 3GPP Release 17 extended the cellular IoT standards with support for communication via satellite, including NB-IoT/eMTC over NTN.
This means there are now modern IoT modules that can combine ordinary terrestrial LTE-M/NB-IoT with satellite communication. Newer modules, for example, support LTE-M, NB-IoT and NB-NTN, so the same hardware platform can be used for both ground-based cellular networks and compatible satellite networks.
It is important, however, not to assume that any existing LTE-M or NB-IoT device can simply gain satellite capability through a software update. The modem, RF design, frequency bands, firmware, antenna and the chosen satellite network all have to support NTN.
For small IoT data packets, the technology is very interesting. You can, for example, send GPS positions, measurements, status information and alarms from places where there is no cellular network at all.
LEO, MEO and GEO
Satellite connections can be established through different types of satellite network.
LEO satellites are relatively close to the earth and can offer good options for IoT with low transmit power. In some LEO systems the connection is not constant, because the device has to wait until a satellite is visible. This means the product has to be able to store data locally and send it when the connection becomes available. That is already a relevant design parameter in current NB-IoT NTN solutions.
GEO satellites are much further away, but in return can provide continuous coverage over very large areas. The choice therefore depends on the requirements for data volume, latency, energy consumption, antenna, cost and how often the product needs a connection.
The right solution is often hybrid
In many products it makes sense to have several options. The product can, for example, use Wi-Fi when it is available, LTE as its normal connection and satellite as a fallback in areas without cellular coverage.
So at Move we do not just look at the radio module. We assess the whole connection: coverage, data volume, power consumption, antenna, SIM/eSIM, roaming, subscription, cloud integration, local storage and the countries the product has to work in.
Choose connectivity early
A product that is going to be installed in Denmark faces different challenges from one that has to be sold globally. LTE-M and NB-IoT are widespread internationally, but support, frequency bands and roaming still vary between operators and countries.
That is why connectivity should be chosen early in product development. The right solution does not just have to make a connection on the development bench. It has to work reliably, economically and energy-efficiently where the product will be used for many years.
Frequently asked questions
Should an IoT product use Wi-Fi or a cellular network?
It depends on the installation. If stable Wi-Fi is already in place and may be used, it can be a simple solution. If the product has to work independently of the customer's IT infrastructure, cellular communication is often more attractive.
What is the difference between NB-IoT and LTE-M?
NB-IoT is optimised for very small amounts of data, low power consumption and stationary products. LTE-M offers greater data capacity and better support for mobile devices.
When does LTE Cat 1bis make sense?
Cat 1bis is interesting when NB-IoT or LTE-M does not offer enough data capacity, but you still want a compact and relatively simple IoT solution on ordinary LTE networks.
Can an IoT product communicate directly with a satellite?
Yes. New NTN technologies make it possible to develop compact IoT products that communicate directly with compatible satellite networks without a traditional satellite terminal.
Can the same product use both LTE and satellite?
Yes. There are now hardware platforms that support both terrestrial cellular networks and NTN. That opens the way for solutions where the cellular network is used normally and satellite is used when the cellular connection is not available.
What happens to the data if the connection drops?
The product can be designed with local storage, so data is stored and sent later. That is relevant with poor LTE coverage, and particularly with satellite networks, where in some solutions the connection is only available periodically.
Can you help choose the cellular module, antenna and subscription?
Yes. At Move we look at the complete solution, including technology, modem, antenna, SIM/eSIM, operator, roaming, power consumption, data volume and the markets the product has to work in.
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