Interactive guide to LTE-M vs NB-IoT

Our recommendation based on your answers

Based on your replies to the questions, LTE-M is the recommended choice. For most international IoT solutions we recommend LTE-M as the preferred connectivity standard as it is expected to become globally available faster and is more straightforward when developing and maintaining applications. LTE-M is built for roaming and has the best support for international deployments using a single point of contact and subscription for enterprises. It is also a better alternative for moving devices as it will not lose ongoing data transfers.

LTE-M operates on dedicated radio frequencies in telecom networks with a proven capability to scale, with committed support through the whole life cycle from the operator. It also supports improved battery life and substantial coverage enhancements, when compared to older mobile technologies.

Differences-between-LTE-M-and-NB-IoT

Our recommendation based on your answers

Based on your replies to the questions, either LTE-M or NB-IoT are suitable connectivity technologies. They are both future proof, globally available, vendor independent technologies and based on open standards.

They operate on dedicated radio frequencies in telecom networks with a proven capability to scale, and with committed support through the whole life cycle from the operator. Both technologies also support improved battery life and substantial coverage enhancements, when compared to older mobile technologies.

NB-IoT may be the better choice in, for example, very large scale sensor networks where the requirements are known at deployment and the best possible indoor coverage is absolutely essential.

However, for most international IoT solutions we recommend LTE-M as the preferred connectivity standard as it is expected to become globally available faster and is more straightforward when developing and maintaining applications. LTE-M is built for roaming and has the best support for international deployments using a single point of contact and subscription for enterprises. It is also a better alternative for moving devices as it will not lose ongoing data transfers.

Differences-between-LTE-M-and-NB-IoT

Below every question you can read how your answers influence the choice of connectivity technology for your requirements and wishes.
1. When you manufacture your product, do you know in which countries it will end up being used?
Your reply: Yes
Your reply: No
2. Will your product need to be connected in more than one country?
Your reply: Yes
Your reply: No
3. Are your products or devices static or moving?
Your reply: Devices are static.
Your reply: Devices move more than 1 km.
4. Is the expected lifespan of your devices more than five years?
Your reply: Less than five years.
Your reply: Five years or more.
5. Will your devices need to be updated frequently during the lifespan?
Your reply: More than twice during the lifespan.
Your reply: Less than twice during the lifespan.
6. Do you want to have the possibility of changing connectivity providers during the life span of the device?
Your reply: Yes
Your reply: No
7. How important is it that the response time of the device is not too slow?
Your reply: It is important. We will have human interaction and the response cannot be too slow.
Your reply: It is not important. We will not have any human interaction with the device.
8. Do your devices always have access to power?
Your reply: Yes
Your reply: No
9. Do your devices use streaming audio?
Your reply: Yes
Your reply: No
10. How likely is it that you would like to expand or enhance your IoT solution during the lifespan?
Your reply: It is likely.
Your reply: It is not likely.
11. Is extreme indoor coverage important?
Your reply: Very to extremely important.
Your reply: Moderately or not important.

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1. When you manufacture your product, do you know in which countries it will end up being used?
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2. Will your product need to be connected in more than one country?
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3. Are your products or devices static or moving? Static means that they are staying in one geographical place and moving means they will move more than 1 km.
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4. Is the expected lifespan of your devices more than five years?
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5. Will your devices need to be updated frequently during the lifespan? Reasons for updating might be updated security or adapting to an extended solution.
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6. Do you want to have the possibility of changing connectivity providers during the life span of the device? This might be relevant at the end of a commercial agreement with an operator.
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7. How important is it that the response time of the device is not too slow? Will your connected devices be controlled by people needing a fast and consistent response?
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8. Do your devices always have access to power?
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9. Do your devices use streaming audio?
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10. How likely is it that you would like to expand or enhance your IoT solution during the lifespan?
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11. Is extreme indoor coverage important? Examples are deep underground coverage for mining or underwater applications.
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Join Us for a Webinar

In this webinar on May 14 we discuss how Artificial Intelligence is transforming the IoT landscape.