The new way of connecting smart sensors fills out Vodafone's Internet of Things portfolio, ensuring there's a connection method to suit every need.
Vodafone enables Long Term Evolution for Machines, an alternative Internet of Things service for customers to bring low-data use cases to life in an affordable way.
New offering sits alongside 4G, 5G and Narrowband-IoT services, as well as the wider partner ecosystem, to enable Vodafone to work with any business – irrelevant of the technical requirements of the Internet of Things use case.
Vodafone has enabled its Long Term Evolution for Machines (LTE-M) offering for business customers, also referred to as CAT-M, a complementary Internet of Things (IoT) service focusing on low-powered, low-data use cases.
LTE-M is designed for IoT services that are not connected to mains electricity and only transmit small amounts of data. Due to these requirements, the IoT devices need a connectivity service that is fit-for-purpose.
Nick Gliddon, Business Director, Vodafone UK, said: “When you have a data-led business, decisions are driven by insight not by assumption. IoT has the potential to revolutionise business, but we must make it accessible to all.
“The power of LTE-M is the ability to choose the right tools for the right job. 5G might be the right choice for some IoT use cases, whereas LTE-M might be better for others. By enabling LTE-M to sit alongside 4G, 5G and NB-IoT, we are providing a technology-agnostic solution for customers. This is about picking the right solution, at the right price point.”
The Internet of Things: Everything you need to know
The Internet of Things may sound like buzzword bingo, but this low-key yet wide-ranging technology is already changing our lives in many ways.
While 4G and 5G solutions are available for IoT use cases that require high data throughput, constant connectivity and low latency to respond in micro- or milliseconds, LTE-M and NB-IoT are designed for low data throughput and non-time sensitive use cases. LTE-M can provide continuous connectivity and low latency services in some scenarios, but only to facilitate small data batches.
LTE-M and NB-IoT differ in their typical download/upload speeds (300 kbps and 20 kbps respectively). NB-IoT is optimised for difficult to reach locations and batch data upload (such as underground water pipes or smart meters in basements), while LTE-M is optimised for mobility (such as asset tracking and wearable devices) and event-based connectivity.
Similar to NB-IoT, LTE-M is a Low Powered, Wide Area Network (LPWAN) technology. This not only means its signal travels further than 4G and 5G signals. It is also designed to preserve the battery life of the devices themselves. LPWAN technology can allow IoT devices to operate reliably for up to 10 years on a single battery charge.
What IoT service is right for different use cases?
Building the business case for IoT
With Vodafone able to offer LTE-M, NB-IoT, 4G and 5G IoT connectivity to customers, there is a technology solution available for every type of use case and every customer’s needs. Vodafone can also support customers on a wider digital transformation journey, thanks to investments in other technology segments (such as Mobile Private Networks and Multi-access Edge Compute), as well as developing partner ecosystems to help create applications and services.
All Vodafone IoT customers also gain access to Vodafone’s own Managed IoT Connectivity Platform to provide intelligence into how devices are performing with advanced service diagnostic and analytics tools to manage operations in real-time, as well as a range of APIs to integrate with customer backend IT systems.
Customers can also leverage Vodafone’s global network presence, and its relationships with roaming and technology providers to create a single interface to the world of IoT connectivity. With 1,400 dedicated IoT professionals across five continents, supporting 160 million IoT connections, Vodafone can support all use cases from local to multi-national.
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Notes to Editor
How does LTE-M differ from other IoT technologies?
Each technology has different characteristics, making each more suitable for different use cases. Broadly, this can be split into two categories. 4G and 5G on the one hand; NB-IoT and LTE-M on the other.
4G and 5G technologies are better suited for IoT use cases that require:
Higher data throughput (fast download and upload speeds)
Lower latency (the time it takes for an application to react)
Continuous connectivity
These elements mean you are able to analyse data in real-time (when combined with edge computing technology) and transfer larger data sets. 4G and 5G use cases could include video analysis, autonomous vehicles and smart factories. In each of these use cases, data needs to be processed and actioned quickly. The requirements of the use case will decide whether 4G is sufficient or whether 5G is needed (for example, ultra-low latency applications).
LTE-M and NB-IoT technologies are configured for IoT use cases that require:
Low data throughput (download and upload speeds are unimportant)
Battery-powered IoT devices
Periodic or event-based action (non-continuous connectivity)
LTE-M and NB-IoT networks differ in that NB-IoT is configured for difficult-to-reach locations (such as basements and other underground locations) and batch data uploads. LTE-M has slightly higher data throughput, as well as being configured for mobile use cases (i.e. the device moves) and event-based connectivity.
Why is it important to offer different types of IoT technology?
In short, to ensure IOT use cases and applications are affordable and accessible to all customers.
Affordability: The advantages of 4G and 5G technology might not be relevant for some use cases, so customers shouldn’t have to pay for the constant connectivity and high data throughput that they don’t need.
Accessibility: As LTE-M and NB-IoT use cases require lower data throughput, coverage is wider. This means use cases in remote locations can be enabled, such as environmental monitoring.
For devices that cannot be connected to the national power grid, for example in remote or difficult-to-reach locations, it is important to configure connectivity requirements to ensure it doesn’t drain the battery too quickly. As LTE-M and NB-IoT can be configured for periodic data uploads and downloads, battery life for sensors can be extended to multiple years.
Without offering the right solution for an IoT use case, a company might not be able to justify the investment.
Vodafone UK is a technology communications company that connects people, businesses and devices to help our customers benefit from digital innovation. Our services span mobile, fixed-line connections, home and office broadband, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
We have a strong track record as a tech pioneer, making the UK’s first mobile phone call, sending the first text message, and making the UK’s first live holographic call using 5G in 2018. We were the first to start carrying live 5G traffic from a site in Salford, Greater Manchester and now have 5G in locations across Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain as well as the UK. Meanwhile, our 4G network coverage currently reaches over 99% of the UK population.
Today, Vodafone serves more than 18 million mobile and fixed-line customers in the UK. Vodafone is the largest provider of full fibre in the UK – our superfast broadband services are now available to nearly 12 million homes across the UK.
Sustainability is also at the heart of what we do: as of 1 July 2021, 100% of the grid electricity we use in the UK is certified to be from renewable sources.
For more information about Vodafone UK, please visit: www.vodafone.co.uk.
