10 things to know about LoRaWAN and NB-IoT

The Internet of Things has a variety of connection requirements, which require different connection technologies. LoRaWAN and NB-IoT are just two of these connection technologies. In some scenarios, LoRaWAN and NB-IoT are not competitors but complementary. In fact, NB-IoT is currently the largest LPWAN network in terms of investment scale and network coverage.

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The Internet of Things (IoT) is constantly changing the way we connect and interact with devices, and there are many networks to choose from when building smart solutions. The most popular low-power wide-area networks (LPWAN) are narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) and LoRaWAN.

NB-IoT uses the infrastructure of cellular networks to communicate over long distances between the cloud and devices and is compatible with LTE mobile networks. LoRaWAN uses the Sub-1GHz unlicensed wireless frequency band to enable LPWAN communications between sensors and network and application servers in the cloud. LoRa devices and wireless RF technology (LoRa Technology) are rapidly becoming the de facto platform for the Internet of Things, enabling a wide variety of application solutions in many vertical industries due to their long range and low power consumption.

The Internet of Things is about using the right technology to solve real-world problems and improve efficiency. When creating an IoT application, you need to consider several factors, including LPWAN connectivity. Here is a comparison between LoRaWAN and NB-IoT technologies:

1. Ecosystem

LoRaWAN is supported by the LoRa Alliance™, an open, non-profit association of more than 500 members that collaborate and share experiences to promote and advance the success of the LoRaWAN protocol as the leading open, global standard for secure, carrier-grade LPWAN connectivity for the IoT.

NB-IoT is supported by two telecommunications standards bodies, 3GPP and GSMA, which share the common goal of promoting the interests of mobile networks and devices.

2. Spectrum

LoRaWAN is optimized for ultra-low power and long-range applications. As such, the network operates in the unlicensed ISM Sub-1GHz spectrum, which is freely accessible to both network operators and device manufacturers.

NB-IoT uses cellular spectrum networks, which are optimized for spectral efficiency. The license fees for using the frequency bands are very high and are limited to a few operators.

3. Deployment Status

According to the LoRa Alliance, 83 public network operators in 49 countries are currently using LoRaWAN, and many more private companies are also using LoRaWAN networks.

GSMA, an organization representing the interests of NB-IoT, LTE and other mobile networks, said 40 countries will launch NB-IoT networks in the future.

4. Deployment Options

LoRaWAN networks offer highly flexible deployment. They can be installed in public, private, or hybrid networks, indoors or outdoors. LoRaWAN signals can penetrate urban infrastructure, and each gateway can cover 30 miles (about 48.3 kilometers) in rural open environments.

NB-IoT uses LTE cellular infrastructure, which is an outdoor public network and requires the deployment of 4G/LTE cellular towers. If the sensor exceeds the coverage of the base station, the base station is not easy to move.

5. Agreement

The LoRaWAN protocol sends data asynchronously, and data is sent only when needed. This can extend the battery life of sensor devices by up to 10 years, with low battery replacement costs.

NB-IoT needs to maintain a synchronous connection to the cellular network, whether or not data needs to be sent. For sensor devices, this consumes a considerable amount of battery life, resulting in high battery replacement costs, which may be too expensive in many applications.

6. Emission current

LoRaWAN provides 18 mA transmit current at 10 dBm and 84 mA transmit current at 20 dBm. The difference in modulation allows LoRaWAN to support very low-cost batteries, including button batteries.

The NB-IoT sensor consumes ~220 mA at 23 dBm and 100 mA at 13 dBm, which means it requires more power to operate, requiring more frequent battery replacement or a larger capacity battery.

7. Receiving current

LoRaWAN provides lower sensor BOM cost and battery life for remote sensors. The receiving current is about 5 mA, and the overall power consumption is reduced by 3-5 times.

The NB-IoT receive current is about ~40 mA. The communication between the cellular network and the device consumes more than 110 mA on average, and a communication lasts for tens of seconds. For devices that need to work for 3, 5, or 10 years or more, the protocol overhead has a significant impact on the battery life.

8. Data rate

LoRaWAN data rates are approximately 293 bps-50 kbps. The LoRaWAN protocol dynamically adjusts the data rate based on the sensor's distance from the gateway, thereby optimizing the signal's air time and reducing collisions.

NB-IoT has a peak data rate of about 250 kbps and is more suitable for use cases with higher data rates (above 50 kbps) with a higher power budget.

9. Link Budget

The MCL signal for LoRaWAN varies depending on regional regulatory limits. The link budget is between 155 dB and 170 dB.

NB-IoT requires repetition of remote sensors at a low bit rate to be able to support remote sensors. The link budget is a maximum of 164 dB.

10. Mobility

LoRaWAN can support mobile sensors, tracking assets as they move from one place to another, and even without GPS, it can provide high enough accuracy for many applications.

NB-IoT is currently limited by idle mode cell reselection and is not optimized for mobile asset tracking.