NB-IoT is based on the LTE technology, but some features of LTE have been stripped out to optimize costs and battery lifetime, e.g. Voice, SMS and handover support. Moreover, data transmission was simplified to run via the control plane and only single-stream (half-duplex). User equipment only requires a single antenna.
Posts made by IoT Community
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What distinguishes NB-IoT from regular LTE?
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Which similar 3GPP technologies exist for IoT?
3GPP-standardized technologies for IoT include:
- CAT1: Low-end LTE device class (for larger data volumes)
- LTE-M/CAT-M1: Driven primarily by US market & Orange and a replacement for 2G in US; potential use cases require less data transfer than LTE or CAT1.
- NB-IoT: driven primarily by European and Chinese market; only for very small data volume and has the best indoor coverage compared to CAT1 and CAT-M
- EC-GSM: extension for GPRS; not widely adopted
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What is involved in deploying the NB-IoT network?
Our existing LTE infrastructure allows an efficient integration of NB-IoT. For the most part NB-IoT will be deployed to our LTE radio access network via software upgrade. As NB-IoT can be deployed both in the GSM or the LTE spectrum, no additional spectrum licenses are needed.
This technology supports different spectral operation modes, making its deployment flexible and adaptable to different regional network implementations, e.g. stand-alone, guard band or in-band operation. Additionally, components specified by the 3GPP for NB-IoT were set up, e.g. core network elements.
In Europe target Bands 20 (800 Mhz) & Band 8 (900Mhz). More information can be found here. -
RE: Support of Fipy board (Sequans chipset)
Deutsche Telekom is currently testing for NB-IoT the Sequans NB01-Q reference module from Sequans. The plan is complete activities within the coming 4-5 weeks. Once all protocol stack issues are fixed, we will work with OEMs, such as Pycom to ensure that the certified protocol stack release from Sequans is integrated into their products.
Pycom’s G01, gpy and fipy modules will thereafter be tested and certified. We will then be able to provide you with documentation and support on these certified products.
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What restrictions does the use of NB-IoT have?
A suitable application must meet the following criteria:
- Project takes place where there is NB-IoT Coverage
- The required maximum data transfer rate is 230 kbps (UL) or 250 kbps (DL)
- A latency of up to 10 seconds during data transmission is uncritical (-> no requirement for time-critical data transmission)
- Localization via GPS is acceptable, since locating by means of network localization (on cell level and/or via triangulation) is not yet implemented in DT network
- Only data are transmitted (no voice/SMS/CSD)
- A direct connection between NB-IoT devices is not required (no mesh network)
- Connection setup for data transmission is initiated from the device (not possible to “wake up” the devices from the server)
In nutshell, an application suited for NB-IoT accepts:
- latency of up to 10 seconds during data transmission is uncritical (-> no requirement for time-critical data transmission)
- Low bandwidth
- No voice or SMS support
- No handover
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What are the benefits for business customers with NB-IoT?
By offering lower costs (hardware and data tariffs), low power consumption and deep indoor penetration; NB-IoT addresses use cases and applications that could not be efficiently served by existing networks/technologies.
This implies that business customers will not only be able to increase efficiency of existing IoT applications but also to tap into new markets.
Our objective as Deutsche Telekom is to serve our customers’ demand across all industries for M2M/IoT solutions that work worldwide, built on established international standards. This is an essential prerequisite to guaranteeing the international service availability, interoperability, reliability and security of all our solutions. That’s why we support international industry standards, and our NB-IoT approach perfectly fits to it.
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What main use cases are supported with NB-IoT?
There are no “main use cases”, as NB-IoT supports a very wide range of diverse applications. Some examples:
- Utilities (metering, e.g. heat, water, gas)
- Smart City (e.g. street lighting, smart parking, smart waste mgmt)
- Logistics (e.g. goods localization)
- Consumer (e.g. home appliances)
- Smart Building (e.g. alarm systems, access control, heating/AC controls)
- Industry (e.g. equipment status & management, energy infrastructure monitoring)
- Agriculture (e.g. soil/crop/livestock monitoring)
NB-IoT primary supports use cases with low data rates, high latency, low frequency transfer, deeper indoor penetration, low power consumption and no voice/SMS, although some operators do support SMS.
Example: Smart Waste Management
Measuring the filling level of waste containers with embedded sensors. An action is triggered to containers that reach a defined filling level. The advantage is a flexibility in adapting collection routes, through which waste management companies can optimize logistics costs and fleet management overhead. Customers benefit when bins are not overflowing.Example: Smart Metering
Remote reading of utility meters (heat, gas, water, electricity) creates greater convenience for customers, while reducing costs for utility providers. The deep indoor penetration of NB-IoT allows the direct connection of meters without having to install and maintain local gateways.Example: Smart Parking
Parking space sensors in the ground detect the parking space occupancy and provide this information to drivers via a dedicated platform. The advantage is that this saves time and reduces stress for drivers, while cities increase their attractiveness and can introduce new business/charging models for parking space, simultaneously benefiting from reduced CO2 emissions. -
What market potential does NB-IoT have?
NB-IoT has a huge potential on the M2M market. Of the 26.2bn estimated M2M connections in 2023, 37% will correspond to applications for which LPWA technologies are suitable and another 9% correspond to applications which could potentially be adapted to use LPWA connectivity. In 2023, over 3bn wide area M2M connections will be covered by LPWA technology. (Source: Machina Research)
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What are the main advantages of NB-IoT?
NB-IoT has several performance advantages compared to existing connectivity offers. By offering lower costs, low power consumption and deep indoor penetration, it addresses customer use cases and applications that cannot be efficiently served by existing technologies. Furthermore, being an international industry standard operating in licensed spectrum with high security levels, NB-IoT represents a future-proof and reliable alternative to proprietary LPWA technologies.
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RE: Time information present?
It is true that there is no time synchronization in Germany. The CCLK feature does not work on the network in Germany. The manual of the n211 says it comes back with a +CCLK measage but in practice it only gives OK when this feature does not work on the network.
Best Regards
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RE: Restrictions for the usage of PDP contexts?
Hello Max,
our network supports just one active PDP context per connection.
Best regards
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RE: Quality of Connection
Hi,
This might help a little:
Reception levels:
Excellent: >= -105 dBm
Very good: >= -115 dBm
Good: >= -125 dBm
Average: >= -137dBm
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RE: Inserting PIN
Hi,
what kind of SIM are you using? I’m asking because our m2m/IoT SIMs usually come with PIN disabled. For this reason, PIN handling is not included in our HW-library.
Unfortunately, the module you are using does not support any management of facility locks, other than entering the PIN when the radio is turned. To proceed you should deactivate the PIN on the SIM on a different device.
You can either try a smartphone or a different module which supports the management of facility locks. The required AT-commands for this are:
AT+CLCK=“SC”,2 # Query status of SIM lock
+CLCK: 0 # SIM is unlocked (1 would be locked)
AT+CLCK=“SC”,0,“1234” # Remove SIM lock (for PIN 1234)
Best regards
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RE: Problems with network connection
Updated AT command sequence. The following commands need to be executed as displayed here:
// Turn Off Radio (IMPORTANT)
AT+CFUN=0
// The following commands need to be executed only once
AT+QCFG=“nbsibscramble“,0
AT+CPSMS=0,“00000001”,“00000001”
// !-> Reboot and turn off Radio (AT+CFUN=0)!
AT+QCFG=“band“,0,0,80,1
AT+QCFG=“nwscanmode“,3
AT+QCFG=“nwscanseq“,030201
AT+QCFG=“iotopmode“,1
AT+QCFG=“servicedomain“,1,1
AT+QCFG=“gprsattach“,0
// Turn on Radio
AT+CFUN = 1
// APN
AT+CGDCONT=1,“IP”,“internet.nbiot.telekom.de”
AT+COPS=?
AT+COPS=1,2,“26201“,9
// Check if modem is attached
AT+CGATT?
// Check if modem is registered correctly. Expected result is : +CEREG: 0,5
AT+CEREG?
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RE: App for Iphone
Hello,
Unfortunately, there is no app for the iPhone because the iPhone would have installed an NB-IoT-capable modem upfront. The iPhones do not have it. The easiest way to check the data reception level is to use an NB-IoT modem.
Best Regards!
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What is NB-IoT?
NarrowBand IoT (NB-IoT) is a new cellular technology specifically designed for the Internet of Things. It is sufficient for the low bandwidth requirements of many IoT use cases in industrial and consumer domains.
Its unique advantages are:
- low cost,
- low energy consumption, and
- deep indoor penetration.
Running on existing telecommunication networks it provides reliability and best coverage. Based on global 3GPP standard, and operated within the licensed spectrum, NB-IoT addresses our customers’ needs for
- international operations,
- stability,
- reliability,
- economies of scale, and
- scalability.
Hence, NB-IoT is an important step towards the “Internet of Things”.
NB-IoT follows the requirements set in the 3GPP standard. The requirements set forth in the standard include:
- Long battery life (according to 3GPP estimates up to 10 years with the equivalent of two AA batteries assuming infrequent data transfers)
- Reuse of RAN assets (target is to upgrade elements of base station primaritly via SW update)
- Deep indoor penetration (+20dB compared to GSM)
- Low radio module unit costs (<5$ as industry goal)
- High security (LTE-based)
- Low data rates (600 bit/s up to 250 kbit/s
- Licensed spectrum
- Several power saving features