July 30, 2024
Today, more than a dozen of standard wide-area network technologies are available for deploying connected products and assets on a global scale. To help organizations navigate this complex connectivity landscape, we've invited two IoT experts—Leif-Olof Wallin (industry analyst) and Gus Vos (Chief Scientist at Semtech)—to talk about the top technology selection criteria in a webinar held on May 14, 2024.
The webinar featured an engaging Q&A session, where both IoT experts explored the nuances of technology selection and shared their perspectives on the evolution of 5G technologies over the coming decades. Believing that this conversation will be beneficial for technical decision-makers, we have compiled the top discussions in this blog.
Why will LTE-M and NB-IoT have a longer lifespan compared to LTE?
LW (Leif-Olof Wallin): The short answer is that only these two technologies from LTE have been carried over into 5G unchanged. Therefore, an LTE-M module deployed today on an LTE network should seamlessly transition to a 5G network and continue to function.
GV (Gus Vos): That’s a good question. The answer isn't straightforward, as there are various factors at play. Initially, we set out timelines for the potential shutdowns of these technologies, which naturally come with some uncertainties.
Operators recognize this need and, after working with customers, now face a decision: which technology should they maintain for the long haul, potentially up to 2045 or beyond? When it comes to choosing between LTE, LTE-M, or NB-IoT, the technical aspects become crucial.
Maintaining LTE-M and NB-IoT networks is less burdensome. These technologies have lower capacity requirements and specifications, meaning they can operate within a 5G NR network more efficiently and with less overhead compared to an LTE network. Essentially, the reduced operational burden makes LTE-M and NB-IoT more appealing for operators to sustain, meeting market demand more effectively.
What technology would provide the best coverage, 5G RedCap, 5G eRedCap, or LTE-M?
LW: When comparing narrowband IoT and LTE-M, these technologies are designed for better reach. The coverage area of a single cell using these technologies is significantly larger than that of a conventional LTE module. Therefore, I'd say these technologies offer greater coverage from a single cell. Would you like to add any details?
GV: No, I agree with that perspective. LTE-M and NB-IoT have complex mechanisms that allow for deep coverage. However, the extent of this coverage depends on the operator's configuration. Deeper coverage can reduce battery life and spectral efficiency, so operators might not always use the maximum potential. 5G RedCap and 5G eRedCap have also seen efforts to enhance coverage, but to my knowledge, these techniques have not been widely deployed. Even if they were, they wouldn't match the coverage enhancements provided by LTE-M and NB-IoT.
In short, LTE-M and NB-IoT offer superior coverage, while 5G RedCap and eRedCap provide less,
depending on operator deployment.
If you start deploying NB-IoT or LTE-M in an LTE network today, can you move to a 5G network without changing the IoT devices?
GV: The short answer is yes, you can move to a 5G network without changing your IoT devices, but it depends on what you mean by "5G network."
NB-IoT and LTE-M can be deployed in-band as per Release 13 using dynamic spectrum sharing or a portion of the spectrum without any modifications. This means they can coexist with 5G
NR technologies seamlessly. However, the transition depends on whether the
network in question utilizes a 5G core (5GCN) or a 4G core (EPC).
Currently, most NB-IoT and LTE-M devices are designed to work with the 4G core. If the network
operator has deployed 5G with a 5G core instead of the 4G core, the existing
NB-IoT and LTE-M devices would not function properly since they only support
the 4G core (EPC).
In Release 16, a standardization mechanism was introduced to support the 5G core for NB-IoT and
LTE-M. However, the devices currently deployed or even those being released now
do not support this feature. In the future, there is potential to add this feature
as a software update to NB-IoT and LTE-M devices, which would then enable them
to work with a 5G core.
So, while the transition is technically feasible, it hinges on the network core being used and the
current capabilities of the IoT devices.
Why wouldn't we use NB-IoT for asset tracking in special cases where you could send messages every 2 hours, and more frequent messages like every 15 minutes in rare event situations?
LW: We do not recommend NB-IoT for asset tracking because it doesn't really support devices that move and switch between cells. If the application is mostly stationary and the connection time (amount of data) is short, NB-IoT may work.
Why don’t you recommend using 5G RedCap for asset tracking?
GV: 5G RedCap is still a very nascent technology; it’s still expensive and more power hungry than LTE-M. At this point in time, there are only 4 operators supporting 5G RedCap globally and 3 of them are in China. As more operators support 5G RedCap and chipset costs come down, it’ll be an alternative, especially where external power is available.
Can you name a year when you expect the 4G network will shut down in Europe or in the US?
LW: For Europe, it's likely beyond 2035. The only place where it might happen earlier is North America, due to greater pressure to release spectrum. We're also witnessing significant 5G
infrastructure development by all major operators in the US. So, perhaps the US
could see a 4G shutdown a bit earlier, but I would still estimate it around
2035. What do you think, Gus?
GV: We’re giving as much guidance as we can, but these timelines often change. For
instance, the 2G and 3G shutdowns in North America experienced multiple delays,
especially the 2G shutdown. Even if an operator announced a shutdown date
today, it's not a certainty due to potential delays.
What are the regulatory/privacy considerations for a global deployment?
LW: There are a lot of regulatory issues and privacy laws that vary almost from country to country. It can also be a bit different if the service is consumer-facing or business-facing. Most of the considerations fall into the following areas:
- Does the country's regulator allow permanent roaming or not? Brazil and Turkey are two major countries that don't allow permanent roaming, but there are others.
- Mandatory local (in-country) break out of traffic.
- Mandate that data can't leave the country (must be stored in country)
To read the rest of the discussion, please download the brochure with the full list of Q&A below.
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