Matching IoT Networks to Apps

One clear point of disagreement already has arisen about requirements for networks supporting Internet of Things devices and applications: bandwidth. Mobile operators argue IoT networks must support both broadband and narrowband apps. Operators of specialized IoT networks emphasize narrowband apps and lower transmission speeds.

LoRaWAN, for example, features data rates range from 0.3 kbps to 50 kbps.

Sigfox devices are even more restricted. Sigfox can handle approximately 12 bytes per message, and at the same time no more than 140 messages per device per day. Where Sigfox excels is battery life, up to 20 years.

As always is the case, supporters tout the use cases that match network capabilities. Sigfox is best for sensors that only need to transmit very-small messages, where the requirement is to support messages requiring less bandwidth  than voice or even text messaging throughput, and perhaps equivalent to paging.

LoRaWAN is better for communications that require sending of more data, just below the requirements for traditional carrier voice.

Internet of Things networks have five essential requirements, said Prabhakar Chitrapu, lead member of the technical staff for small cell platforms at AT&T. Some of the requirements are similar to all general-purpose mobile networks these days. Among those common features, IoT networks must operate at scale, support both narrowband and broadband apps.

Among the general features, IoT networks must offer much lower cost than is typical to support smartphone users and devices and also support much-longer battery life.

That point of view is particular to operators of mobile networks, however. Many specialized IoT networks, such as LoRaWAN, emphasize narrowband connections, not broadband.