What is Narrowband IoT?
Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) is a low-power, wide-area technology that can operate virtually anywhere. It makes it easier and more efficient to connect devices to built mobile networks and safely and reliably handle small amounts of occasional bidirectional data. Its biggest advantage is that it has the following features:
• Ultra-low power consumption
• Excellent extended coverage inside the building and in the basement
• Easy to deploy into existing cellular network architectures
• Network security and reliability
• Low component costs
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What will be the challenges of NB-IoT?
We believe that the wireless technology of the future will be secure, stable, and robustly connected. Many of the potential "connected things" are located in areas that are far away from the next cell site or hard-to-reach, or in shielded areas within buildings or underground structures. When there is a signal overlay, connectivity is often poor and requires the device transmitter to operate at high power, thus draining the battery. In addition, cellular networks are not optimized for applications that send only a small amount of occasional infrequent data. Existing cellular standards don't support power-saving features, so they're not suitable for inexpensive devices that require years of battery life.
NB-IoT can connect more devices to the Internet of Things and enable many new applications. It is optimized for applications that need to transfer small amounts of data over long periods of time. Since it operates in licensed spectrum, it can provide quality services safely and reliably, guaranteeing quality of service.
For a typical NB-IoT application, the cost of using additional cellular air interfaces is too high because the NB-IoT application does not need to use all of its features. NB-IoT applications focus on low speeds, powerful data transmission, and an appropriate level of reliability. The low cost of the device also reduces installation costs and reduces the risk of theft.
Typical Applications
(1) Smart metering measurement
NB-IoT is ideal for monitoring gas and water meters with routine small data transmission. Network coverage is a key issue in dynamic deployments of smart metering measurement releases. Meters can easily be found in hard-to-reach locations, such as basements, deep underground, or in remote rural areas. NB-IoT has good coverage and penetration and can be used to solve this problem.
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(2) Smart cities
NB-IoT can help local governments control street lighting, determine when bins need to be emptied, identify available parking spaces, monitor environmental conditions, and survey road conditions.
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(3) Smart buildings
NB-IoT-connected sensors send alerts about building maintenance issues and perform automated tasks such as light and heat control. NB-IoT can also provide backup to support broadband connectivity in buildings. Some security solutions can even use an LPWA network to connect sensors directly to the surveillance system, as this configuration is more difficult for intruders to breach and easier to install and maintain.
(4) Wearable devices
NB-IoT provides wearables with their own remote connectivity capabilities, which are particularly beneficial for human and animal tracking. Similarly, NB-IoT can be used to monitor the health of patients with chronic or age-related diseases.
(5) Agriculture and the environment
NB-IoT connectivity can provide farmers with the possibility of tracking technology, and sensors equipped with NB-IoT modules can alert if the animal's movement does not meet or exceeds the usual range requirements. Such sensors can be used to monitor the temperature and humidity of the soil and, in general, to track the characteristic properties of the land, pollution, noise, rain, etc.
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