NB-IoT
NB-IoT is a narrowband low-power bearer for small, infrequent device messages, with deep indoor reach and long battery but no handover or voice.
Definitions only — a term explained here is not a service we sell.
NB-IoT is a 3GPP Release 13 low-power bearer that runs in a 180 kHz carrier inside, beside or outside an LTE band. It trades mobility and throughput for reach and battery, and carries small, infrequent payloads.
Availability is per operator and per market; where a network has not announced it, a coverage check should report unknown, not no. Later releases refine the standard, so module support differs.
How it works
The NB-IoT carrier can sit inside an LTE band, in the guard band or standalone. Repeating a transmission extends reach by spending time and power. PSM and eDRX trade downlink responsiveness for battery life.
NB-IoT beside the other bearers
| NB-IoT beside the other bearers | NB-IoT | LTE-M | Cat-1 bis | Cat-4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobility | No handover | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Peak rate (theoretical) | ~26/66 kbps (Cat-NB1) | ~1 Mbps (Cat-M1) | 10/5 Mbps | 150/50 Mbps |
| Battery priority | Highest | High | Medium | Low |
| Voice | No | Optional | No | VoLTE |
Text description
NB-IoT sits at the lowest typical rate and the highest battery priority in the matrix. It has no handover and no voice, so a moving asset or a call needs another bearer. LTE-M raises the typical rate to about 1 Mbps and supports cell changes.
What it does not do
NB-IoT is not a mobile broadband bearer. It has no voice, low peak throughput and no connected-mode handover in its first release, so a moving asset loses time on cell reselection. Cameras and live tracking need LTE-M, Cat-1 bis or Cat-4. Cellular bearers compared starts from the traffic profile.