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COVER STORY


Making the best possible connection with Telit Cinterion


From powering smart buildings to enhancing public safety, companies are increasingly leaning on IoT modules to supercharge their business growth, boost operational efficiency, and deliver real-time insights to partners and customers. Yet, without careful consideration, planning and deployment, many companies are stuck focusing on simple use cases, missing out on the full potential of IoT. IoT is no longer about “if” or “when”—it’s about transforming operations right now and shaping the future. With the technology now ubiquitous, the market is flooded with a vast array of cellular IoT modules—critical components in any deployment. These tiny devices, essential for connecting physical objects to wireless networks, play a crucial role in the success of IoT projects. They must be reliable, consistent, and sustainable, ensuring smooth data transmission and interaction in every application. Telit Cinterion is a leading player in the manufacture, deployment and management of cellular modules that support the IoT. Today their modules, services and solutions provide connectivity to millions of devices globally. In this month’s edition, Gregorio Vidal, field applications engineer at Anglia, looks at some of the considerations developers need to make during the selection of a cellular


IoT module, cellular module options and the software and managed services for IoT applications. Cost vs. cost of ownership


Whilst the price for cellular IoT modules has steadily decreased in recent years, they have yet to reach the commoditized status of some other wireless connectivity modules such as Bluetooth & ISM band. Many newcomers to cellular based IoT can fall into the trap of employing a commodity electronic component selection model matching the required capabilities or desired use cases with the lowest price possible. However, a different approach is needed when choosing cellular IoT module and service providers to ensure the requirement of the application and expectation of the end users are fully met. Pricing models for IoT connectivity plans typically differ not only on cost per megabyte of data used but also on additional charges. For example, value-added services, monthly or annual fees, number of connections, or volume of data allowed can be bundled into one packaged price. In the case of cellular low-power wide-area (LPWA) data plans, however, charges could include each message transmitted and exchanges in addition to the cost per megabyte. The functions of different IoT modules are generally similar, however businesses should still consider the risk, sustainable interoperability, committed capacity and expertise required to deploy and run a successful IoT project. By favouring a selection strategy based on the cost of ownership over a purchase cost approach, it is possible to find a module and service provider such as Telit Cinterion that can deliver cost-effectiveness, consistent connectivity, security, and continuous stability.


10 September 2024 Components in Electronics


Choosing the right ingredients for your IoT solution


Most IoT applications share three key requirements: 1. Low power usage—many are battery-powered. 2. Reliable 24/7 network connection—constant communication is essential. 3. Optimized data usage—to keep connectivity costs low.


Choosing the right communication module sounds simple: just match it to these needs, right? Unfortunately, it’s not that straightforward. Numerous variables can compromise one or more of these key requirements. First, consider where the cellular IoT modules will be deployed. Different regions have distinct mobile network


standards and regulations. While modules with global coverage are available, if your deployment is Europe- only, you could end up paying for unnecessary radio band capabilities. Next, decide on the primary network standard based on your IoT application. High data transmission demands 5G’s high bandwidth and low latency, while lower data rates can be handled by LTE 4G. Additionally, plan for scenarios where the primary network isn’t available—such as tracking applications with roaming— where a module with 2G fallback is often necessary. IoT applications have a variety of modules and communication protocols to choose from. Here are five of the most popular: 1. NB-IoT: Ideal for transmitting small data packets once an hour or day, NB-IoT modules are perfect for fixed installations with very low power consumption, enabling long battery life. However, they lack mobility management, making them unsuitable for tracking applications. 2. LTE-M: Offering higher bandwidth and more frequent data transmissions, LTE-M modules are slightly more expensive than NB-IoT but include mobility management, making them suitable for tracking. 3. LTE Cat 1: With low latency and higher data speeds (up to 10Mb/s downlink and 5Mb/s uplink), these modules support video communication and VoLTE. They also feature low power and idle modes to conserve battery life. 4. LTE Cat 1 bis: Designed specifically for IoT, these modules need only one antenna, making them cheaper,


www.cieonline.co.uk


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