NB-IoT and LTE-M Explained:

Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) is a Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) radio technology standard developed by 3GPP to enable a wide range of cellular devices and service.
The advantage of LTE-M over NB-IoT is its comparatively higher data rate, mobility, and voice over the network, but it requires more bandwidth, is more costly, and cannot be put into guard band frequency band for now.[5]. In March 2019, the Global Mobile Suppliers Association reported that over 100 operators had deployed/launched either NB-IoT or LTE-M networks.

What is Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT)?

Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) is a new fast-growing wireless technology 3GPP cellular technology standard introduced in Release 13 that addresses the LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) requirements of the IoT.

It’s been classified as a 5G technology, standardised by 3GPP in 2016.

It is fast emerging as the best in class-leading LPWAN technology to enable a wide range of new IIoT devices, including smart parking, utilities, wearables, and industrial solutions.

NB-IoT is characterised by:

• excellent indoor coverage,
• support of a massive number of connections,
• cost efficiency,
• low device power consumption,
• optimised network architecture.

NB-IoT dramatically improves network efficiency, increasing the capacity to support a massive number of new connections using only a portion of the available spectrum.

This efficiency, in turn, minimises power consumption enabling battery life of more than ten years.

Also, NB-IoT penetrates deep underground and into enclosed spaces providing 20+dB coverage indoors

Increased Performance

LTE-M, industry shorthand for “Long-Term Evolution (LTE) machine-type communications (MTC),” is an LPWA technology standard introduced by 3GPP in Release 13.

As described by the GSMA, it is a 5G technology that supports simplified device complexity, massive connection density, low device power consumption, low latency and it provides extended coverage, while allowing the reuse of the LTE installed base.

LTE-M deployment can be done “in-band” within a standard LTE carrier or “standalone” in a dedicated spectrum. It leverages LTE spread spectrum technology, which is free. It serves a broad set of use cases providing an attractive option for device manufacturers looking to deploy on current cellular networks.

Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) leverages DSSS modulation technology vs. LTE spread technology for connectivity.

NB-IoT is very flexible and can operate in 2G, 3G and 4G band. It eliminates the need for a gateway, which saves cost in the long run.

It is characterised by improved indoor coverage, support of a massive number of low throughput devices, low delay sensitivity, low device power consumption, optimised network architecture, and it is ultra-cost efficient.

Like LTE-M, NB-IoT can be deployed “in-band” within a standard LTE carrier or “standalone” for deployments in dedicated spectrum. Additionally, NB-IoT can also be implemented in an LTE carrier’s guard-band.

LTE-M Frequency Bands

According to recommendations by the members of the GSMA LTE-M Task Force, minimum of eleven bands: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 20, 25, 26 and 28 are required for coverage in all the countries for which the LTE-M members have provided input

NB-IoT Frequency Bands

Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), also known as LTE Cat NB1 is a Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) Technology developed for the Internet of things. The NB-IoT specification was frozen in Release 13 of the 3GPP specification (LTE-Advanced Pro), in June 2016. Release 13 defined 14 frequency bands for NB-IoT. In, Release 14, 4 more frequency bands were added (11, 25, 31 and 70). In Release 15, 7 more bands were introduced (4, 14, 71, 72, 73, 74, 85).

NB-IoT Frequency Bands

NB-IoT Band	Uplink Band	Downlink Band	Bandwidth	Duplex Mode
B1	1920 – 1980 MHz	2110 – 2170 MHz	60 MHz	HD-FDD
B2	1850 – 1910 MHz	1930 – 1990 MHz	60 MHz	HD-FDD
B3	1710 – 1785 MHz	1805 – 1880 MHz	75 MHz	HD-FDD
B4	1710 -1755 MHz	2110 -2155 MHz	45 MHz	HD-FDD
B5	824 – 849 MHz	869 – 894 MHz	25 MHz	HD-FDD
B8	880 – 915 MHz	925 – 960 MHz	25 MHz	HD-FDD
B11	1427.9 – 1447.9 MHz	1475.9 – 1495.9 MHz	20 MHz	HD-FDD
B12	699 – 716 MHz	729 – 746 MHz	17 MHz	HD-FDD
B13	777 – 787 MHz	746 – 756 MHz	10 MHz	HD-FDD
B14	788 – 798 MHz	758 to 768 MHz	10 MHz	HF-FDD
B17	704 – 716 MHz	734 – 746 MHz	12 MHz	HD-FDD
B18	815 – 830 MHz	860 – 875 MHz	15 MHz	HD-FDD
B19	830 – 845 MHz	875 – 890 MHz	15 MHz	HD-FDD
B20	832 – 862 MHz	791 – 821 MHz	30 MHz	HD-FDD
B25	1850 – 1915 MHz	1930 – 1995 MHz	65 MHz	HD-FDD
B26	814 – 849 MHz	859 – 894 MHz	35 MHz	HD-FDD
B28	703 – 748 MHz	758 – 803 MHz	45 MHz	HD-FDD
B31	452.5 – 457.5 MHz	462.5 – 467.5 MHz	5 MHz	HD-FDD
B66	1710 – 1780 MHz	2110 – 2200 MHz	70/90 MHz	HD-FDD
B70	1695 – 1710 MHz	1995 – 2020 MHz	25 MHz	HD-FDD
B71	633 – 698 MHz	617 – 783 MHz	65 MHz	HD-FDD
B72	451 – 456 MHz	461 – 466 MHz	5 MHz	HD-FDD
B73	450 – 455 MHz	461 – 466 MHz	5 MHz	HD-FDD
B74	1427 – 1470 MHz	1475 – 1518 MHz	43 MHz	HD-FDD
B85	698 – 716 MHz	728 – 746 MHz	10 MHz	HD-FDD

Deployments

As of March 2019 GSA had identified:

149 operators in 69 countries investing in one or both of the NB-IoT and LTE-M network technologies
104 of those operators in 53 countries had deployed/launched at least one of the NB-IoT or LTE-M technologies of those, 20 operators in 19 countries had deployed/launched both NB-IoT and LTE-M
22 countries are now home to deployed/launched NB-IoT and LTE-M networks
29 countries are home to deployed/launched NB-IoT networks only
Two countries are home to deployed/launched LTE-M networks only
141 operators in 69 countries investing in NB-IoT networks; 90 of those operators in 51 countries had deployed/launched their networks
60 operators in 35 countries investing in LTE-M networks; 34 of those operators in 24 countries had deployed/launched their networks

For Further Information: