LTE Cat-NB1 and Cat-NB2

What is NB-IoT (NarrowBand – Internet of Things)?

Narrowband IoT (also known as NB-IoT, LTE Cat NB1 or LTE-M2) is a Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) radio technology standard developed to enable a wide range of devices and services to be connected using cellular telecommunications bands. NB-IoT is a narrowband radio technology designed for the Internet of Things (IoT) and is one of a range of Mobile IoT (MIoT) technologies standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

LTE Cat NB-IoT highlights features:

* Total Bandwidth Required: 180 kHz

* Download Peak Rate: 250 kbit/s

* Upload Peak Rate: 250 kbit/s (multi-tone) /20 kbit/s (single-tone)

* Latency: 1.6s–10s

* Duplex mode: half duplex

* Transmit Power Class: 20/23 dBm

* Number of Antennas: 1

* Receiver Chains: 1 (SISO)

* 3GPP Release: Release 13

LTE Cat NB-IoT Frequency Bands:

LTE Cat NB1 is a low power, narrow band technology that can handle small amounts of 2-way data transmission in an efficient, secure and reliable manner. NB-IoT focuses specifically on indoor coverage, low cost, long battery life, and enabling a large number of connected devices. The NB-IoT technology operates using resource blocks on existing LTE networks or in the LTE carrier's guard bands. It can also operate using unused 200 khz bands that were previously used by GSM. It is also suitable for the re-farming of GSM spectrum.

LTE NB-IoT Advantages:

NB-IoT is one of the more popular LPWA technologies which can be used for IoT Applications. It offers the right combination of features. The low-frequency narrowband signals have a long range and propagation characteristics which can penetrate through walls and metal conduits. The power requirements are low enough to enable devices powered by a single battery to last more than 10 years. It data rate is just right for IoT Applications like meter readings, controlling street lighting, monitoring of parking slots, Industrial data monitoring and a number of other low data rate applications.

LTE Cat NB-IoT Applications:

Based on the advantages, LTE Cat-NB1 could be used in many fields:

* Smart metering (electricity, gas and water)

* Facility management services

* Intruder and fire alarms for homes & commercial properties

* Connected personal appliances measuring health parameters

* Tracking of persons, animals or objects

* Smart city infrastructure such as street lamps or dustbins

* Connected industrial appliances such as welding machines or air compressors.

LTE Cat NB-IoT Modues:

Here now, many famous vendors already presented their NB-IoT Module to occupy the IoT market. The vendors include Sierra Wireless, Huawei, Telit, SIMCOM, ZTE, Quectel, Pycom, Skywork, Lenovo, MobileTek, Meig, Lierda, H3C, Longsung, Digi XBee, CMCC, Cheerzing etc. You can check below the LTE NB-IoT Modules from these vendors and the list would be kept updating.