NB-IoT vs LoRaWAN are two types of low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) technologies that are designed for Applications IoT. Here is a summary of the main differences:

NB-IoT contre LoRaWAN

Bande passante

equivalent to one physical resource block within a normal LTE resource block. This means that NB-IoT can fit more devices in the same spectrum and has less data capacity and speed. LoRaWAN uses a bandwidth of 125KHz on 8 channels in 1 band. In US915, AU915, and CN470, there are 8 bands, so there are multiple ways to expand the network capacity. Please contact us on how to expand the network capacity with LoRaWAN.

Spectre

LoRaWAN is optimized for ultra-low power and long-range applications. LoRaWAN networks operate in the unlicensed ISM (Industrial, Scientific, and Medical) band, so it is free to use. So there may be interferences from other devices in the same band. NB-IoT operates in spectrum licensed for cellular (LTE) networks and is optimized for spectrum efficiency over everything else. License fees paid by cellular operators to use these frequency bands are very high, limiting the number of licensees that can afford to pay to operate NB-IoT services.

Déploiement

LoRaWAN networks can be set up in different ways: public, private, open communities, or hybrid networks, indoors or outdoors. LoRaWAN can send signals over long distances and through obstacles, so it works well in cities where you need to connect devices inside buildings or underground and in rural areas where you can cover up to 50km per gateway. NB-IoT depends on LTE cellular infrastructure. This means the networks are outdoor public networks that use 4G/LTE base stations (cellular towers). You cannot easily move base stations to other places if capteurs are not in range of the tower. The cost of making an LTE network suitable for IoT use cases is high.

Vitesse

NB-IoT is faster than LoRaWAN, offering up to 200 kbps of data rate in downlink and uplink. LoRaWAN, on the other hand, is from 293bps to 50 kbps.

Consommation d'énergie

Both NB-IoT and LoRaWAN have lower power consumption than regular LTE devices, meaning they can operate on batteries for longer periods. They also support power-saving features like power saving mode (PSM) and extended discontinuous reception (eDRX), which allow them to sleep or reduce their activity when not in use. However, for NB-IoT, building the TCP connection takes time (and power), which consumes extra power while waiting. And UDP is not stable. LoRaWAN does not have these problems.

Satellite

LoRaWAN (which supports LR-FHSS data rates) is perfectly adapted to direct deviceto-satellite communications, limiting downlink communications to prevent interferences with terrestrial devices, optimizing battery lifetime, and reaching a high link budget under harsh radio conditions. NB-IoT has frequent downlink communications and high power consumption due to message repetitions under harsh radio conditions, which is a challenge for device-tosatellite communications.

Mobilité

LoRaWAN devices can roam between passerelles in the same country. However, it is challenging if devices roam between countries because the frequency plans differ. NB-IoT is limited to idle mode cell reselection, which is not well optimized for mobile asset tracking because devices must be activated again when they roam between different base stations.

Tableau comparatif LoRaWAN vs NB-IoT

Résumé

In general, 4G and 5G are good options for data backhaul for larger data communication devices such as passerelles, cameras, etc. 4G can also be used for traqueurs, especially for vehicles that continuously power the tracker.

LTE-M, NB-IoTLes réseaux Cat-1 et Cat-1 peuvent être une bonne option si vous avez besoin d'une capacité de suivi à faible consommation d'énergie à l'échelle nationale, voire mondiale. Par exemple, pour les conteneurs, les véhicules, les colis, les machines à louer, etc. Veuillez vérifier la disponibilité du réseau auprès de l'opérateur ou du fournisseur de la carte SIM avant d'étendre votre projet.

LoRaWAN is a good option for tracking projects in a relatively small area, such as a factory, port, farm, work platform on the sea, or even a city. There are also nationwide LoRaWAN networks in some European countries such as France, Belgium, and Netherlands.

Disponibilité à long terme
Il existe d'autres options, comme Sigfox. Un client peut utiliser le système pendant de nombreuses années et vous souhaiterez peut-être étendre la même solution à différents clients. La disponibilité à long terme de la technologie est donc un facteur crucial, mais pas si évident, qu'il convient d'évaluer.

Écosystème
LoRaWAN and 4G have a perfect eco-system where you can find all kinds of resources on end nodes, algorithms, network service, application service, and consultants. They expedite your project and provide alternatives as your business expands.

Un projet de suivi combine généralement plusieurs technologies de communication, à savoir longue distance et champ proche. La précision, la distance, l'alimentation, les dimensions et le support sont donc d'autres facteurs à prendre en compte.

Découvrez le livre blanc : La différence entre la 4G, la 5G, la LTE, la CAT-M, la LTE-M, la CAT-1, la NB-IoT et la LoRaWAN pour un projet de suivi.

Quelle est la différence entre 4G, 5G, LTE, CAT-M, LTE-M, CAT-1, NB-IoT et LoRaWAN – Lansitec

Découvrez les différences entre la 4G, la 5G, la LTE, la CAT-M, la LTE-M, la CAT-1, le NB-IoT et… LoRaWAN pour un projet de suivi.