Hi, @Unicef!
NarrowBand-Internet of Things (NB-IoT) is a standards-based low power wide area (LPWA) technology developed to enable a wide range of new IoT devices and services. NB-IoT significantly improves the power consumption of user devices, system capacity and spectrum efficiency, especially in deep coverage. Battery life of more than 10 years can be supported for a wide range of use cases.
New physical layer signals and channels are designed to meet the demanding requirement of extended coverage – rural and deep indoors – and ultra-low device complexity. Initial cost of the NB-IoT modules is expected to be comparable to GSM/GPRS. The underlying technology is however much simpler than today’s GSM/GPRS and its cost is expected to decrease rapidly as demand increases.
Supported by all major mobile equipment, chipset and module manufacturers, NB-IoT can co-exist with 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile networks. It also benefits from all the security and privacy features of mobile networks, such as support for user identity confidentiality, entity authentication, confidentiality, data integrity, and mobile equipment identification. The first NB-IoT commercial launches have been completed and global roll out is expected for 2017/18.
Mobile IoT Forum
The aim of the Mobile IoT Forum is to provide all industry and wider ecosystem stakeholders with market representation to accelerate the wide-spread adoption of 3GPP-based LTE-M and NB-IoT technologies. LTE-M and NB-IoT are addressing the low power wide area IoT market opportunity using licensed spectrum.
The objectives of the Mobile IoT Forum
Facilitate commercial launches of LTE-M and NB-IoT solutions globally
Lead industry partners and the ecosystem to build a strong end-to-end industry chain for future growth and development of LTE-M and NB-IoT
Drive and proliferate LTE-M and NB-IoT applications in vertical markets for new business opportunities
Promote collaboration between all LTE-M and NB-IoT industry partners to ensure interoperability of solutions.
How to join the Mobile IoT Forum
The Mobile IoT Forum is open to GSMA Members and Associate Members, however all members must positively contribute to the Task Force’s high-level objectives, including promoting and deploying LTE-M and NB-IoT technologies and encouraging new service and application development. Non-GSMA Members are welcome to join the Mobile IoT Innovators, at the bottom of this page, to help create a vibrant ecosystem and keep up to date with the latest information and events.
If you would like to join the Mobile IoT Forum please contact iot@gsma.com
To help build a vibrant ecosystem around licensed spectrum LPWA technologies, the GSMA has created the Mobile IoT Innovators community consisting of developers, device makers, network vendors, operators and end customers. Sharing interviews with industry experts, case studies, use cases and other valuable information, this community helps stimulate insights and innovation.
