Connectivity Options

Narrowband IoT (NB-IOT) is a low-power wide-area network technology designed for Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine 2 Machine (M2M) applications.

• Pros: Extended coverage using existing public networks, long battery life, low-cost devices.
• Cons: Lower data transfer rates, no support for voice and video, limited to low data rate applications.
• Scenarios: Ideal for smart metering, environmental monitoring, and asset tracking.
• Indicative Costs: Low, due to low-cost devices and extended battery life.
• Typical Sectors: Utilities, smart cities, agriculture, and logistics

• LTE-M (Long-Term Evolution for Machines) is a low-power wide-area cellular technology designed for IoT applications.
• Pros: Higher data rates compared to NB-IOT, supports mobility and voice over the network.
• Cons: Requires more bandwidth, higher cost compared to NB-IOT.
• Scenarios: Suitable for asset tracking, smart metering, and healthcare applications.
• Indicative Costs: Low to moderate, due to higher data rates and support for mobility.
• Typical Sectors: Transportation, healthcare, and smart cities

• A low-power, wide-area network protocol designed for wireless battery-operated devices.
• Pros: Long range (up to 15km in rural areas), low power consumption (typically 0.5W which is approx. 10% of the power needed for Wi-Fi).
• Cons: Low data rate, not suitable for high-speed applications.
• Scenarios: Ideal for IoT applications, such as smart agriculture and environmental monitoring.
• Indicative Costs: Low to moderate, as it involves low-power devices and gateways. Costs include network hardware and installation
• Typical Sectors: Agriculture, smart cities, industrial IoT, and environmental monitoring are key sectors using LoRaWAN

• Satellite - or non-terrestrial - communication involves using satellites to provide connectivity for various applications.
• Pros: Wide coverage can reach remote and rural areas.
• Cons: High latency, expensive to deploy with high subscription costs.
• Scenarios: Suitable for remote sensing, navigation, and communication in remote areas.
• Indicative Costs: High, due to the cost of satellite deployment and monthly contract costs.
• Typical Sectors: Telecommunications, defence, and remote sensing, back-haul in remote areas with no 4G/5G coverage

• Fourth generation (4G) mobile network technology providing high-speed data and voice services.
• Pros: Wide availability, high data rates, supports voice and video calls.
• Cons: Limited coverage in rural areas, lower data rates compared to 5G.
• Scenarios: Suitable for mobile internet, video streaming, and voice calls.
• Indicative Costs: Moderate, as it is widely deployed and supported by existing infrastructure.
• Typical Sectors: Telecommunications, consumer electronics, and mobile services

• Fifth generation (5G) mobile network technology providing ultra-high-speed data and low latency. 5G network freely available by purchasing a SIM directly from a Mobile Network Operator (MNO) or Mobile Virtual Network Operator. An MVNO essential uses an MNOs exiting network to provide a mobile service under their own brand.
• Pros: High data rates, low latency, supports many connected devices. ‘Off the shelf’ product, easy to purchase a data plan and plenty of choice for plans & providers, providers will often provide a managed service to support the connectivity requirements relatively cheaply as no new network build is required.
• Cons: 5G coverage and user experience is not guaranteed across the full geography of the UK with gaps in coverage (not-spots) common in rural areas, no guaranteed service levels (unless using a technology that can dedicate a level of service e.g. quality of service capability (QoS))
• Scenarios: Ideal for a variety of use cases e.g. use cases with a high volume of sensors spread over large geographical areas, such as road transport sensors.
• Indicative Costs: Standard offering is relatively low cost with pricing options to suit different data requirements and sensor/handset volumes. Network ‘slicing’ packages are starting to be introduced and are more expensive due to the guaranteed levels of service. Network slicing is a 5G concept that allows for different types of QoS based on the use case.
• Typical Sectors: this solution can potentially be an option for most sectors

Note – public 5G is currently available in TWO different versions:

5G NSA (Non-Standalone):

• Widely available across the UK.
• In NSA, 5G is deployed alongside existing 4G LTE infrastructure.
• The 5G network relies on the 4G core network for handling certain network functions, such as control signalling, while the 5G part mainly handles data traffic.
• Essentially, it uses 5G radios for faster speeds but connects to a 4G core, making it a mix of 4G and 5G technology. Some aspects of the full 5G specification remain unavailable at present.

5G SA (Standalone):

• This is being rolled out across the UK and not as freely available as NSA.
• In SA, the 5G network operates independently with a dedicated 5G core network.
• This allows the network to fully utilise 5G features, including lower latency, network slicing, and more efficient management.
• The network is entirely 5G end-to-end, with no reliance on 4G LTE for core network functions.

• Dedicated 5G networks for specific organisations or use cases. Users can specify which aspects of the 5G capability suits their application.
• Pros: High speed, low latency, secure, user is fully in control of the network
• Cons: Expensive to deploy and maintain. Requires a licence to operate from Ofcom.
• Scenarios: Suitable for industries requiring high-speed, low-latency communication, such as manufacturing, creative industries and healthcare.
• Indicative Costs: High, as it involves deploying and maintaining dedicated 5G infrastructure. Costs include network hardware, installation, maintenance, and spectrum licensing
• Typical Sectors: Manufacturing, transport and logistics, energy and utilities, and healthcare are leading sectors for private 5G deployments

• Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) provides broadband access using radio signals instead of physical cables.
• Pros: Quick deployment, high-speed internet without the need for physical cables.
• Cons: Performance can be affected by environmental factors, limited coverage compared to wired solutions.
• Scenarios: Suitable for providing broadband access in rural and underserved areas.
• Indicative Costs: Moderate, as it avoids the cost of laying physical cables.
• Typical Sectors: Telecommunications, rural broadband, and enterprise connectivity

• A wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to provide high-speed internet and network connections.
• Pros: Widely available, easy to set up.
• Cons: Limited range (typically 15m-45m), can be affected by interference, not as secure as other technologies
• Scenarios: Commonly used in homes, offices, and public places for internet access.
• Indicative Costs: Low to moderate, depending on the scale of the deployment. Costs include routers, access points, and installation
• Typical Sectors: Healthcare, education, manufacturing, enterprise/corporate, and industrial/energy sectors are projected to increase the number of Wi-Fi projects

• A wireless communication technology that uses light to transmit data.
• Pros: High speed, secure, no interference from radio waves.
• Cons: Limited range (around 10m) requires line of sight.
• Scenarios: Suitable for environments where radio frequency interference is an issue, such as hospitals and airplanes
• Indicative Costs: Moderate to high, as it requires specialized light-based communication equipment. Costs include network hardware and installation
• Typical Sectors: Automobiles, aerospace, defence, and IoT are sectors with growing interest in LiFi technology

• Fibre optic technology uses light to transmit data at high speeds over long distances through cables.
• Pros: Extremely high data rates, low latency, reliable and secure.
• Cons: Expensive to deploy in areas where it isn’t already present, requires physical infrastructure for cables either underground or over telegraph poles.
• Scenarios: Suitable for high-speed internet, and use cases where the sensors are indoor or fixed locations
• Indicative Costs: Relatively low where fibre is already present as packages can be bought ‘off the shelf’. Costs will be very high in. rural areas where fibre would need rolling out.
• Typical Sectors: Indoor locations such as offices, manufacturing hubs etc