Connectivity: Wireless Technology for IoT Edge Devices
Skills Revolution
Technology and People. Digital Transformation, Internet of Things, Data Analytics; Supported by People Change Management
In the expansive ecosystem of the Internet of Things (IoT), IoT edge devices play a pivotal role in facilitating real-time monitoring of various edge parameters and assets. The data collected from these devices can be organized to provide valuable insights and drive business efficiency, security, and productivity across industries. As part of Skills Revolution Digital's comprehensive End-to-End IoT offering, we prioritize the IoT solution and its performance requirements, and recommend the most suitable communication technology. When selecting the ideal IoT edge device communication technology, there are several factors and considerations to bear in mind.
In this article, we will explore different types of IoT Wireless Technologies, discuss industry applications, and highlight essential factors to consider during the selection process.?
What is Wireless Technology??
Wireless technology is a method of connection within an IoT system that includes sensors, platforms, routers, applications, and other systems. Many options are available however, each option introduces a delicate balancing act between power consumption, bandwidth, and range. At a high level, there are standard wireless options like cellular (3G, 4G, 5G, LTE-M, NB-IOT) and there are long-range options like SigFox, LoRaWAN, LPWAN. Short range options are Bluetooth, Wifi and Zigbee. Skills Revolution Digital uses its understanding of the foremost IoT technologies to determine the best wireless technology option for customer solution needs. In South Africa and Southern Africa some of these technologies exists and some do not.?
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Types of IoT Edge Device Wireless Technologies
Before we get into how to decide which wireless technology is right for your business, let’s look at the main options available today. These will meet the requirements of most use cases.?
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1. Cellular?
Widely available in South Africa and Southern Africa. One of the best-known types of IoT wireless technology is cellular (3G, 4G, 5G), particularly in the commercial, industrial markets but also in consumer mobile market. Cellular networks provide reliable broadband communication that supports everything from streaming applications to voice calls. Since cellular communication technology has such expansive infrastructure, it offers relatively high bandwidth. Carriers offer Cat-M1 and NB-IoT, cellular options designed to compete with novel LPWAN technologies.?
In the past, cellular did not work well in applications with limited power available for communication, but with advancements in edge device technology, cellular is becoming much more popular. For non-mobile applications where power consumption isn't a consideration, cellular remains an excellent choice. With the introduction of 5G’s ultra-low latency, wireless can effectively support the needs of things like time-sensitive industrial automation, real-time delivery of medical data, and public safety surveillance video. It will be exciting to watch this unfold.?
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2. LPWAN (Cat-M1/NB-IoT)?
LPWAN is widely available in South Africa but not necessarily activated on all base station towers and is therefore not available in all Southern Africa Countries. Widely available in South Africa, Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWANs) supply long-range communication using small, inexpensive batteries. This family of technologies is ideal for supporting large-scale IoT networks where a significant range is needed. However, LPWANs can only send small blocks of data at a low rate.???
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3. Bluetooth and BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy)?
Bluetooth, initially popular in consumer circles, is now finding utility in commercial and industrial solutions. As a short-range communication technology, Bluetooth operates within Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs). Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is optimized for power consumption and is commonly used in small-scale consumer IoT applications. In commercial and industrial settings, BLE is increasingly employed for applications such as indoor asset tracking and as slave devices for additional edge measurements.?
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4. WiFi?
?Wi-Fi has played a critical role in providing high-throughput data transfer for enterprises and homes, making it another well-known IoT wireless technology. While effective in suitable situations, Wi-Fi has limitations in terms of scalability, coverage, and high power consumption. Due to newer enterprise security practices, IoT devices are discouraged from being added to the same primary Wi-Fi networks as traditional employee computers or phones. In Skills Revolution Digital's experience, this has led to the adoption of alternative technologies like cellular to address security concerns and expedite deployment efforts.?
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5. LoRaWAN?
LoRaWAN is a self-deployed type of communication channel, and is available for use in South Africa through existing and growing LoRa networks. This powerful and emerging technology offers a longer range for small data packets with low power consumption. LoRaWAN effectively manages communication frequencies, power, and data rates for all connected devices. Sensors using LoRaWAN communicate with a LoRaWAN gateway to send data to the cloud. While it requires a back-haul transport, Skills Revolution Digital and other partners can provide the necessary support. LoRaWAN sensors are designed for widespread deployment over large areas, transmitting simple, small data packets infrequently.?
6. SigFox?
The SigFox network is well established in South Africa. With its Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) deployment, SigFox has revolutionised connectivity for IoT edge devices, significantly reducing the cost and energy consumption required to securely connect physical devices to the Cloud.?
?Despite transmitting limited small packets of data and employing a low on-air duty cycle, SigFox offers long-range, low-cost, low-power, reliable, and secure connections to our cloud platform.?
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Which IoT Wireless Technology is the Best??
With Skills Revolution Digital's extensive experience and in-depth understanding of the various IoT wireless technologies available, we are well-positioned to help you make the optimal decision for your business. There is no single best option; the choice depends on your specific needs.?
Furthermore, some technologies can be effectively combined to create a more robust solution. A great example is pairing a GPS master tracker device communicating over SigFox with a slave BLE device to connect a tractor with an implement in a Smart Agri solution. This novel approach, fuelled by technology, enhances efficiency.?
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How to Choose an IoT Wireless Technology for Your Product?
To choose the right IoT wireless technology, you need to evaluate the options available based on your specific requirements.? Consider the trade-offs between power consumption, range, and bandwidth, and prioritize their importance for your product. Factors to analyse include data range, battery size, cost, transmission distance, carrier-deployed vs. customer-deployed, deployment location, firmware updates, and more.?
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Here are some questions to help get you started to make the right decision for your business:??
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Choose a Company with the Expertise to Guide You?
You don't have to navigate the complex and ever-evolving IoT market alone. Skills Revolution Digital possesses the expertise to navigate the available technology options and help you make informed decisions for your business. We stay up-to-date with the latest technologies, saving you time and effort. From concept and design to implementation and monitoring, we provide comprehensive support throughout the process.??
Contact us today to schedule a free, no-pressure consultation and discover what we can achieve together.?