Feature: Communications
Choosing the right technology For many deployments, universality is another important consideration. Some national markets have great support for LTE-M or NB-IoT, but only a few support both and not through a single SIM – which will be a problem for devices deployed internationally and at scale. Tey require consistent operation across regions, as well as longevity. It isn’t going to benefit organisations to switch to a technology that might not be supported long term in all its regions. CAT-1 is an attractive alternative for
relatively low power, embedded cellular connectivity for IoT installations across different markets. It is already present in every network’s technology stack, across the globe. Everywhere there’s support for 4G, CAT-1 can be ready to connect, which means that from a network technology perspective, companies can plan for a single SIM. Battery life may be shorter for CAT-
1 installations, depending on the application; possibly five years compared to NB-IoT/LTE-M’s ten. Tis can be limiting for some uses, unless devices have rechargeable batteries or can connect to a power source. CAT-1 is also likely to cost more
initially because the modules are more expensive, but operational cost per megabyte is comparable to that of other
technologies. Of course, costs must be weighed against breadth of coverage and roaming, but, for some organisations, implementation costs will be prohibitive.
Companies will need to settle
on a technology that most suits their devices and applications. There are several options available, so companies and IoT device manufacturers
must evaluate them carefully before deciding on the right solution
Planning for change Organisations impacted by 2G/3G sunsetting must plan carefully to transition services from one network technology to another. Aſter all, such a change may involve decommissioning and swapping out lots of SIMs, and possibly even upgrading or replacing devices. Companies will need to settle on a
technology that most suits their devices and applications. Tere are several options available, so companies and IoT device manufacturers must evaluate them carefully before deciding on a solution. Technical practicalities such as bandwidth, latency, mobile or stationary applications, support for specific functionalities such as video or voice, size constraints and power consumption may be overriding factors. Total cost of ownership is also likely to play a major part, as is operational simplicity; but, as IoT deployments are oſten large and multi-regional, universality of access will be important. Undoubtedly there will be some trade-offs along the line, so it will be important to discuss the full range of needs with a cellular connectivity service provider who can advise on the right technology for operation aſter 2G/3G.
www.electronicsworld.co.uk November 2022 19
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