Which IoT Connectivity Works Best for a User?
Network Infrastructure

Which IoT Connectivity Works Best for a User?

Network Infrastructure Magazine | Monday, July 05, 2021

Cellular IoT connectivity offers the best IoT connectivity experience. Cellular technology enables both broad coverage and scalability. Additionally, all of this is accomplished at a reasonable cost.

FREMONT, CA:  "IoT connectivity" refers to the various methods used to connect IoT devices—techniques such as applications, sensors, trackers, gateways, and network routers. However, in the Internet of Things industry, the term "IoT connectivity" is frequently used to refer to the specific IoT network solutions that enable this type of connectivity. This may include Wi-Fi, cellular, or low-power wide-area network (LPWAN), to name a few.

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Cellular IoT connectivity

Cellular connectivity– also known as satellite connectivity– is frequently used when discussing machine-to-machine (M2M) Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity. It is the same type of connectivity that users use to connect our smartphones and tablets, and it operates through the use of a broadcast tower—typically within a range of about 10–15 miles (16 to 24 km).

Significant characteristics include the following:

  • Cellular has by far the most incredible range. As long as users are within range of a cellular tower (which is the majority of the time), they can connect to virtually anyone or any 'thing' on a global scale.
  • Cellular connectivity is a highly dependable method of IoT connectivity. Unlike WiFi, it is rarely interrupted and is ubiquitous.
  • Ease of use: Cellular is highly compatible—users need an IoT eSIM or a standard SIM card to connect.
  • Cellular consumes a disproportionate amount of energy in comparison to its competitors.
  • Because household-name providers can be costly, it's critical to shop around and ensure users get the best deal possible.

Wi-Fi

When connecting IoT devices, Wi-Fi can effectively connect smaller gadgets and appliances within a limited coverage range. However, it consumes a fair amount of power (though less than a cellular alternative) and has obvious coverage limitations.

Wi-Fi is typically reliable—providing adequate connectivity for IoT devices once configured correctly. Already, the use of Wi-Fi as an IoT network has exploded in popularity. For example, consider the number of people who rely on Wi-Fi to power their Alexas and Google Nests.

LPWAN

Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) is a relatively new contender in the Internet of Things (IoT) network space, but it offers significant coverage breadth while maintaining low power consumption. LPWAN accomplishes this by powering its connectivity with small, inexpensive batteries.

Numerous types of LPWAN connections have been developed for a variety of purposes, including the following:

  •  LTE-M - (a customized LTE connection designed for small power consumption)
  •  Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) (Narrowband IoT)
  •  LoRa

Bluetooth

The majority of us are familiar with the concept of Bluetooth, having used it for the last decade on our phones. Bluetooth enables users to send data wirelessly over short distances. Bluetooth has made significant strides in recent years in terms of power consumption. Whereas it was previously possible to quickly drain a battery, today's Bluetooth connections operate on a relatively low-power model. As a result, Bluetooth has a competitive bandwidth of 2Mbps but a limited range of fewer than 30ft (10m).

See Also: Top Cybersecurity Consulting/Services Companies

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