SigFox vs 5G: A Detailed Comparison of Technologies

This article compares SigFox and 5G, highlighting their differences.

SigFox Technology

SigFox is based on a Low Throughput Network (LTN) architecture, designed for low data rate communication over long distances. It’s well-suited for M2M and IoT applications requiring infrequent data transmissions (a few bytes per day). SigFox networks can coexist with cellular technologies like LTE and 5G. The technology is defined in ETSI GS LTN 001, 002, and 003 documents.

Figure 1: SigFox Network Architecture

The following table summarizes the key features of SigFox technology.

Figure 2: SigFox wireless system features

5G Technology

5G (fifth generation) technology is defined in 3GPP Release 15 and beyond. The 5G NR (New Radio) standard was published in December 2017. 5G operates in two modes: NSA (Non-Standalone) and SA (Standalone).

• Standalone (SA): The UE (User Equipment) relies solely on 5G RAT (Radio Access Technology) without LTE.
• Non-Standalone (NSA): LTE is used for control plane functions (e.g., call origination, termination, location registration), while 5G NR handles the user plane.

Figure 3: 5G NR Network Architecture

Here are the key features of 5G wireless technology:

• Bandwidth: Supports 1 Gbps or higher.
• Frequency Bands: Sub-1 GHz, 1 to 6 GHz, and above 6 GHz in mmWave bands (28 GHz, 40 GHz).
• Peak Data Rate: Approximately 1 to 10 Gbps.
• Cell Edge Data Rate: 100 Mbps.
• End-to-End Delay: 1 to 5 ms.

Tabular Difference Between SigFox and 5G

The table below outlines the key differences between SigFox and 5G wireless technologies.