What is the role of NB-IoT in 5G networks?

Exploring the role of narrowband IoT in 5G networks requires understanding how these two different technology standards ultimately complement each other. Let’s look at what NB-IoT and 5G are, and then see how they work together in future wireless IoT deployments.

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What is NB-IoT?

The NB-IoT standard was formally developed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and currently operates on LTE cellular networks. It is a niche technology suitable for low-power, wide-area use cases in indoor environments.

The purpose of this standard is to enable low-cost, battery-powered IoT devices to connect and transmit small amounts of data in a bulk transmission scheme. The goal for some battery-powered IoT devices is to make them last up to 10 years without maintenance. To this end, NB-IoT was developed with absolute energy efficiency in mind. However, the technology achieves this goal at the expense of throughput and real-time data transmission.

When using the latest LTE Cat-NB2 technology (upgraded from LTE Cat-NB1 to the 3GPP Release 14 specification), the technology limits the uplink bandwidth to a maximum of 159Kbps. In addition, the narrowband in NB-IoT means that IoT devices use a single frequency band to connect and transmit data. Again, this is to protect the battery power of IoT devices.

What will a mature 5G network look like?

5G is the next evolution of broadband cellular technology. The technology builds on 4G and LTE and improves performance, latency, and device density. As new mobile devices, such as Apple's iPhone 12, begin to use 5G-enabled wireless chips, U.S. carriers such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon are upgrading their networks to 5G technology.

5G will also be deployable as a private mobile computing network. With the FCC’s opening of space in the Citizens Broadband Radio Service spectrum, businesses can deploy their own 5G networks to cover large buildings, manufacturing plants, and campus environments where traditional Wi-Fi deployments are not ideal.

Bringing NB-IoT to 5G Networks

NB-IoT is currently being brought into the 5G era.

In July, the International Telecommunication Union confirmed 3GPP NB-IoT as an officially supported standard. This means that compared with older cellular technologies, NB-IoT networks should have improved bandwidth performance, higher density of connected devices, and lower latency. Therefore, NB-IoT is expected to become a viable deployment option for both operator 5G and privately deployed 5G networks.