What’s The Difference Between NB-IoT and LoRaWAN?

There are many wireless networking protocols that are being used for IoT, but there are two main players in this market – NB-IOT and LoRaWAN. This article will examine the two technologies, how they’re different, and which is best in what cases.

What is NB-IOT?

NB-IoT is a low power wide area network technology that has been specifically designed for the Internet of Things. It is based on the same principles as other LPWAN technologies such as LoRaWAN, but uses a different radio access technology. NB-IoT is designed to provide high speeds and low latency over long range distances, making it ideal for applications such as smart metering and asset tracking.

NB-IOT is a cellular technology that is designed for low power, wide area networks. It uses a different radio access technology than LTE and is optimized for devices that only need to send small amounts of data. NB-IOT is ideal for applications such as smart meters, parking sensors, environmental monitors, and wearables. 

What is LoRaWAN?

LoRaWAN is a protocol that was developed for low power, wide area networks. It uses the ISM bands or unlicensed radio frequency bands, LoRa being used on 434MHz, 868MHz and 915MHz amongst others, and can be used with a variety of radios. LoRaWAN is often used in applications such as building automation, asset tracking, and remote monitoring.

LoRaWAN is a media access control (MAC) layer protocol designed to work with low-power devices in low-bandwidth, battery-operated networks. The LoRaWAN specification provides robust, secure bi-directional communication between end devices and a central LNS LoRa Network Server.

The Difference Between NB-IoT and LoRaWAN

NB-IoT is a communication standard developed by 3GPP for connecting “things” to the internet using cellular networks. It is based on LTE and designed to be used in licensed spectrum whereas LoRaWAN is an open specification from the LoRa Alliance for wide area networking of “low power devices” using unlicensed radio spectrum such as the Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band at 868 MHz in Europe and 915 MHz in North America.

 NB-IoT offers higher security than LoRaWAN as it uses SIM cards and encrypted communications. It also has a higher capacity than LoRaWAN, supporting up to 100,000 devices per base station. NB-IoT also consumes 4 times more power than LoRaWAN, making it less suited for battery powered devices. NB-IoT has a shorter range than LoRaWAN and is more expensive to implement.

In which cases would you use NB-IoT?

NB-IoT can be used in a number of different cases, such as smart metering, parking, and street lighting. It is also well-suited for connecting devices in remote or difficult-to-reach locations, as the technology requires little infrastructure and can work well in low coverage areas.

In which cases would you use LoRaWAN?

There are a few key factors that make LoRaWAN an attractive option for certain use cases:

1. Long range: One of the key benefits of LoRaWAN is its long range capabilities. LoRaWAN can support devices that are miles away from the gateway, making it ideal for applications like asset tracking and monitoring where devices may be spread out over a large area.

2. Low power: Another key benefit of LoRaWAN is its low power consumption, which makes it ideal for battery-operated devices. This is especially important in applications where devices need to operate for extended periods of time without being able to recharge or replace batteries.

3. Flexible deployment: LoRaWAN can be deployed in both rural and urban areas, as well as indoors and outdoors. This flexibility makes it well-suited for a wide variety of IoT applications.

4. Scalable: LoRaWAN can be easily scaled to support a large number of devices, making it suitable for IoT deployments with a large number of sensors or other connected devices.

Conclusion

In conclusion, NB-IoT and LoRaWAN are two different types of networks that are used for different purposes. NB-IoT is best suited for applications that require high data rates and low power consumption, while LoRaWAN is best suited for applications that need to cover a large area with little infrastructure.

So, what’s the difference between NB-IoT and LoRaWAN? To put it simply, NB-IoT is a newer technology that offers some advantages over LoRaWAN in terms of speed and efficiency. However, LoRaWAN still has its place as a low-power option for IoT devices that don’t need high data rates. Ultimately, the decision of which technology to use will come down to the specific needs of your project.

Written by johnkweber Technical Team Lead at IoTdc