What actually is IoT or the Internet of Things?

Simply put, IoT is how various things or devices that are not computers, tablets, or smartphones (that is, devices that traditionally connect to the internet), can now connect to the internet, and receive or send data. 

IoT Device Connections: M2M

A key concept of IoT is how these ‘things’ or devices are interconnected directly with each other, which we call the M2M (Machine to Machine) connection. 

In a traditional connection, at least one intermediary is positioned between the two devices to facilitate communication. When we make a voice call, for example, our phone is not directly connected to the recipient’s phone, but the network operator (transmission tower, satellite, etc.) acts as an intermediary. 

In IoT M2M connections, a smart device connects directly with another device. For example, a smart thermostat can directly send data to a smart refrigerator without any intermediary. This M2M connection is what enables the automation of IoT devices for virtually any process, providing ways to improve productivity and accuracy via IoT. 

This is why IoT device connections that allow M2M communications are the core of any IoT deployment. Below we will discuss the different options for IoT device connections available, as well as their pros and cons. 

Different IoT Device Connections

Why are there so many different IoT connectivity solutions available? Simply put, because the ideal solution for IoT device connections doesn’t exist, at least, yet. 

A perfect IoT device connection should: 

  • Consume very low energy
  • Allow a high data transfer rate
  • Have the widest possible coverage area, ideally a truly global coverage area

As you can see, currently we don’t have such a solution available, and this is why all IoT device connectivity options always have at least one trade-off across these three areas. 

With that being said, generally, we can differentiate all the different IoT connectivity solutions into three main classifications: 

1. Low Energy Consumption, Low Coverage Range, High Bandwidth

The trade-off here is the coverage range. This type of IoT device connection can allow a high data transfer rate between devices while maintaining medium to low energy consumption. 

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (especially Bluetooth LE since older Bluetooth protocols use a lot of energy) are the most popular examples in this category. Wired IoT device connections are pretty rare, but Ethernet (LAN) can also be categorized here. 

Wi-Fi, for example, can offer really high bandwidth up to 1GB per second or even more and uses a relatively low energy consumption when compared to cellular or satellite connectivity. However, as we know, the coverage range for Wi-Fi is fairly limited to just around 100 ft. 

2. High Energy Consumption, High Coverage Range, High Bandwidth

The trade-off here, as you can see, is energy consumption. 

It takes a lot of energy to wirelessly send a lot of data over a great distance, and two examples for this type of IoT device connections are cellular IoT and satellite. 

We are most likely familiar with cellular connectivity with our 3G/4G/5G connection in our smartphones. As we can see, our phones can receive and send large amounts of data (i.e. video streaming) and we can call people located in different countries, but we need to charge our phones every now and then. 

Cellular IoT and satellite connectivity are the only viable options if you are looking to implement international or even global-scale IoT deployments. Cellular is used when the IoT sensors are deployed within cellular coverage (which is virtually everywhere these days). However, in some cases, for example when the sensor is deployed underwater, satellite connection might be necessary. 

3. Low Energy Consumption, High Coverage Range, Low Bandwidth

As we can see, the trade-off here is a lower data transfer rate to conserve power. IoT device connections in this category are grouped in an umbrella term called LPWAN (Low-Power Wide-Area Network). 

These LPWAN connectivity technologies, like NB-IoT (NarrowBand IoT), LoRaWan, SigFox, and others, all send only small amounts of data, allowing them to operate at very low power and can cover a lot of grounds (above 500 meters). 

Various LPWAN technologies are being developed at the moment, and they are very useful for many IoT deployments that don’t require a lot of bandwidth. Most sensors, for example, don’t need to send much data, and thus LPWANs are ideal for these applications. 

Cellular IoT as The Most Versatile IoT Device Connection

At the moment, cellular IoT remains the most versatile IoT connectivity option available, especially for large-scale IoT deployments that require a lot of bandwidth. At the moment, cellular IoT is one of the only two connectivity options (together with satellite) that can truly achieve global IoT connectivity. 

A key advantage of using cellular IoT connectivity over other IoT device connection options is that the infrastructure is already in place: cellular towers are virtually everywhere, and so when you want to expand your IoT network, very little new infrastructure needs to be installed. 

By partnering with the right network provider that offers an aggregation-enabled IoT data plan, you can also ensure cost-efficiency and future scalability. Truphone for Things, for example, offers cellular IoT coverage in more than 150 countries while also offering data aggregation and remote SIM provisioning. 

Advantages of cellular IoT connectivity include: 

  • Advanced co-existence mechanisms in the LTE standard, allowing many IoT devices in the network to operate simultaneously
  • No limiting regulatory regulations at the moment
  • Open standards usage based on existing infrastructure. Cellular towers are everywhere
  • Standardized security and end-to-end encryption on top of on-air encryption, ensuring data security and integrity 

Conclusion

The key in choosing the right option between different IoT device connections is knowing your IoT project’s needs while also considering plans for future scalability. However, cellular connectivity remains the most versatile option at the moment, especially for larger IoT deployments that also require high bandwidth. 

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