NB-IoT Tutorial: Features, Spectrum, and Applications
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This tutorial covers the basics of NB-IoT (NarrowBand Internet of Things), including its key features, frequency spectrum options, and various applications. We will also compare NB-IoT with earlier LTE versions like Cat-1, Cat-0, and Cat-M.
What is NB-IoT?
- NB-IoT stands for Narrowband-IoT.
- It is specified in LTE Release 13, succeeding LTE Cat-M (Release 12).
- NB-IoT is designed to meet the demands of LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) networks.
- It offers better geographical coverage than LTE-M while using lower data rates.
- This allows for extended battery life, potentially up to 10 years.
- NB-IoT devices use a narrow frequency spectrum with a bandwidth of 180 KHz to 200 KHz.
Features of NB-IoT
The following table summarizes the key features of NB-IoT (LTE Cat-NB):
Specifications | NB-IoT |
---|---|
Extended Coverage and distance | 20dB better than GSM/GPRS, covers about less than 22 Km from the cell |
Frequency Spectrum | 700MHz, 800MHz, 900MHz |
Bandwidth | 180 KHz to 200 KHz |
Capacity-Number of Connections | 50K connections per cell, supports about 40 devices per household |
Power Consumption | Very low power consumption, extending battery life to 10 years |
Latency | Less than 10 seconds (uplink) |
Data rate | 200 Kbps |
Transmit Power | +20 dBm or +23 dBm |
Device Cost | Low, under $5 per module |
NB-IoT Frequency Spectrum
Figure 1: NB-IoT Frequency Spectrum
Figure 1 illustrates the different frequency spectrum options supported by NB-IoT: Standalone, In-Band, and Guard Band.
- Standalone: This deployment type utilizes new, dedicated bandwidth.
- Guard Band: This uses bandwidth reserved in the guard band of an existing LTE network.
- In-Band: This uses the same RBs (resource blocks) within an existing LTE carrier.
NB-IoT Applications | NB-IoT Use Cases
Here are some typical use cases and applications for NB-IoT:
- Personal Use: Wearables, smart bicycles, tracking of children and the elderly.
- Public Use: Smart metering, alarms and event detectors, smart garbage bins.
- IoT Appliances: Refrigerators, temperature sensing smart devices.
- Industrial Use: Logistics tracking, asset tracking, smart agriculture.
Difference between NB-IoT (LTE Cat-NB), LTE Cat-1, LTE Cat-0, LTE Cat-M
The following table highlights the differences between NB-IoT and earlier LTE versions:
Specifications | LTE Cat-1 | LTE Cat-0 | LTE Cat-M | LTE Cat-NB |
---|---|---|---|---|
3GPP Release | Rel.8 | Rel.12 | Rel.12 | Rel.13 |
Bandwidth | 20 MHz | 1.4 MHz | 1.08 MHz | 180 KHz |
Data rate | 10 Mbps | 1 Mbps | 1 Mbps | 200 Kbps |
Frequency Spectrum | LTE In Band Only | LTE In-Band, Guard Band, Standalone | LTE In-Band, Guard Band, Standalone | LTE In-Band, Guard Band, Standalone |
Coverage | Same as LTE coverage, LTE Cat-M has deeper penetration +20dB than LTE, <22 Km |