NB-IoT standards
All of the above can be attributed to the foundations of the formation of the NB-IoT standard, which was developed by the 3GPP consortium.
The first document in which the standard was reflected was Rel.13. Rel. 14 is a further development of technology.
Work on the Rel.14 project was completed in June 2017.
A number of manufacturers already produce modem modules and devices based on this standard.
Another name for NB-IoT technology found in English literature is LTE Cat NB1.
Accordingly, in Rel. 14 also changed the name - LTE Cat NB2.
Let's denote what has changed in Rel.14 compared to Rel.13:
A third mobile device power class has been added (power class 6):
14 dBm. Rel.13 has two power classes: 23 dBm (power class 3) and 20 dBm (power class 5).
A new mechanism for switching to PSM mode has been introduced.
Adopted new algorithms for calculating object coordinates based on OTDOA and PRS
A new geolocation mechanism is being introduced - Location services LCS, which uses the Observed Time Difference Of Arrival (OTDOA) technology, which was first regulated in Rel.9 for LTE networks.
An implementation of the LCS NB-IoT positioning system was demonstrated in action at Mobile World Congress 2018.
Added upgraded position reference signals. Their introduction helps to track movement at high speeds in conditions of strong interference.
Improved data exchange speed parameters.
New properties and functions:
double HARQ (hybrid automatic retransmission request);
positioning mechanism support (UTDOA/OTDOA);
new mechanism for switching to power-saving mode;
the possibility of using devices of a lower power class;
upgraded carrier;
multicast;
TDD support for small cells;
new frequency bands (B11, B25, B31, B70).
Modern development of the NB-IoT network
Due to the mobile communications industry's commitment to a wide range of low power standards-based (LPWA) technologies based on 3GPP standards, there is a sharp increase in the number of networks supporting NB-IoT and LTE-MTC (LTE-M) in the world.
There has also been a significant increase in the number of NB1-compatible devices and, more recently, the release of Rel-compatible chipsets and modules. 14 (NB2).
According to the Global Mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) and their analysis of the state of the communications market, the results by the end of Q3 2019 are as follows:
142 deployed/launched NB-IoT or LTE-M networks operated by 114 operators;
153 operators are actively investing in NB-IoT technologies compared to 141 operators in April 2019, of which 101 deployed/commercially launched NB-IoT networks (up from 90 6 months ago);
29 plan, test launch and/or deploy NB-IoT networks;
23 are evaluating/trying NB-IoT technology.
At the same time, the distribution of the device market is as follows:
230 devices support NB1 (including known variants), 103 of them support only NB1;
7 identified devices support NB2 (5 of which additionally support Cat-M1, 6 of which also support reverse NB1 standard).
In conclusion, GSA states that 3GPP IoT technologies, in particular NB-IoT, will become the global dominant LPWA technologies that will drive huge growth in the IoT market.
Since 2018, 3GPP has already been working on Rel.15! It is planned to add frequencies B4, B14, B71, B72, B73, B74, B85.
NB-IoT based products
NB-IoT began to develop more actively since 2016, although in Europe these networks spread even earlier.
Only in December 2017, the State Commission on Radio Frequencies made a decision to allocate frequencies for NB-IoT.
Huawei has succeeded in testing and releasing a commercial product based on GSM/GPRS and NB-IoT technologies.
In 2017, with the support of a mobile operator, we tested the developed commercial device based on an existing GSM/GPRS model and presented it to the market.
Especially for the created NB-IoT product, a separate Base Station (BS) was installed near our office.
This allowed us to establish a full-fledged production process for commercial products in the shortest possible time!
Applications for devices based on NB-IoT transmission technology
The main areas and industries in which the technology for NB-IoT data transmission is already used today are as follows:
The use of a new type of device or the transfer of current ones to new communication standards has a positive effect on the growth of industries.
Pilot projects are being implemented, mass implementation of devices based on NB-IoT technology is already planned in the regions and large cities.
For example, in the field of energy and utilities / housing and communal services, NB-IoT is used to organize remote collection of readings, control and even control of various systems.
For example, collecting and transmitting readings from apartment meters or monitoring pressure, responding and alerting in emergency situations.
In the field of production, NB-IoT is used to organize communication facilities in indoor security systems (various buttons, sensors, alert systems), climate control systems in industrial premises, systems for detecting leaks of liquids and gases.
NB-IoT cellular wireless technology appears to be the most versatile, mobile, and relatively cheap for use in a variety of industries.
A wide range of applications cover a huge market for device developers and vendors, and already deployed NB-IoT networks allow you to quickly integrate devices into a new or existing system, without the need to build your own infrastructure, which saves significant costs.
The adapted network and special modem modules work with a high degree of energy efficiency for stand-alone devices and thus provide themselves with a leading position compared to similar GSM / GPRS devices.
Based on all the above features, NB-IoT technology has a significant weight among other LPWA technologies and is supported by the largest players in the wireless communications market.
Thank you.
