reference from
https://www.i-scoop.eu/internet-of-things-guide/lpwan/nb-iot-narrowband-iot/
LPWAN
| Description | NB-IoT (Cat-NB1) | LTE-M (eMTC, Cat-M1) | LoRa LoRaWAN Sigfox | GPRS | LTE |
| QoS (Quality of Service) | Low | Higher | |||
| Cellular Technology | Yes (using existing cellular network) | Yes (using existing cellular network) | No (non-cellular LPWAN) | ||
| For mobile application | No (for static only) | Yes (cellular switching) | No | ||
| Latency | 1.6 to 10 sec | 100 to 150ms | |||
| In-door application | Better | Good | |||
| Communication | Half-duplex | Half-duplex | |||
| Devices talk less often | Devices talk less often | Devices talk more often | |||
| Good if only a few devices is expected to be used in the remote area. | same as NB-IoT | Good if many devices are deployed in area the same area nearby. | |||
| Cost | Very Cheap $1/month | Cheap | Cheap | Expensive | |
| Brand New method | Light version of LTE. |
Telecom Connectivity Offer
Some of the offer from Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).
- SingTel NB-IoT $1/month (10MB data), https://www.singtel.com/business/products-services/iot/networks/connect
- M1 M2M solution, https://www.m1.com.sg/business/solutions/enterprise-mobility/machine-to-machine-m2m
- StarHub NB-IoT, https://www.starhub.com/business/products-and-services/mobilizing-my-business/starhub-iot/iot-connectivity.html
International Sim Card for NB-IoT connectivity
- iBasis (APN: ibasis.iot), https://ibasis.com/
- Hologram, https://hologram.io/
- SORACOM, https://www.soracom.io/pricing/
- THINGS MOBILE GLOBAL IOT & M2M SIM CARD (going to have NB-IoT)
Evidence suggesting that NB-IoT is a method of using existing Telecom cellular network for IoT devices
- watch between video timing 00:20 to 00:40, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf7wcl1IZYc
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmqBc-oTBCo
- paper NB-IoT Network Field Trial: Indoor, Outdoor and Underground Coverage Campaign
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332142971_NB-IoT_Network_Field_Trial_Indoor_Outdoor_and_Underground_Coverage_Campaign
Company supplying NB-IoT module
- Nordic nRF9160
- Sequans’ Monarch, Sequans – GM01Q-STMOD
https://www.sequans.com/products-solutions/modules/#monarchmodules
https://www.richardsonrfpd.com/Products/Product/GM01Q-STMOD - Digi XBee® 3 Cellular LTE-M/NB-IoT
https://www.digi.com/products/embedded-systems/digi-xbee/cellular-modems/xbee3-cellular-lte-m-nb-iot - ublox SARA-R410M-02B-01,
https://www.digikey.sg/product-detail/en/u-blox-america-inc/SARA-R410M-02B-01/672-SARA-R410M-02B-01CT-ND/9565823,
https://www.digikey.sg/product-detail/en/u-blox-america-inc/SARA-R410M-02B-01/672-SARA-R410M-02B-01CT-ND/9565823 - QUECTEL, Raspberry Pi NB-IoT Shield
https://sixfab.com/product/raspberry-pi-nb-iot-shield/
https://sixfab.com/product/raspberry-pi-lte-m-nb-iot-egprs-cellular-hat/ - gemalto
- Telit, https://www.telit.com/m2m-iot-products/mobile-iot/
- (Simple) Dragino NB-IoT Shield-B8 from Seeed Studio, https://sg.rs-online.com/web/p/radio-frequency-development-kits/1845111
- SparkFun LTE CAT M1/NB-IoT Shields – SARA-R4, https://www.mouser.sg/new/sparkfun/sparkfun-lte-cat-m1-nb-iot-shields/
- Low cost NB-IoT module from China, WH-NB71 $12.86, www.mokuai.cn, https://sea.banggood.com/Multi-band-NB-iot-Wireless-Communication-Module-with-Huawei-Chip-WH-NB71-Embedded-p-1474147.html?gmcCountry=SG¤cy=SGD&createTmp=1&utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=cpc_bgs&utm_content=lijing&utm_campaign=pla-sg-sea-all-pc-0409&ad_id=430771610769&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIirfiwdrb6AIVBZGPCh2HMQvqEAYYAiABEgJWQfD_BwE&cur_warehouse=CN
- HAT-NBIOT-7000E (SIM7000) USD56.79 from SIMCOM (lots of AT command notes). https://www.waveshare.com/wiki/SIM7000E_NB-IoT_HAT
Other lists of manufacturer brands for NB-IoT modules can be found here,
https://www.gsma.com/iot/mobile-iot-modules/