Your comprehensive guide to IoT connectivity technologies and decision-making
Choose the right technology for your IoT application. Cellular protocols provide global reach through public networks, while LoRaWAN offers private network control. Click on any technology below to explore detailed characteristics and use cases.
Cellular IoT primarily uses public networks managed by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) or MVNOs.Private 4G/5G networks exist but often require infrastructure investment and technical expertise. Public cellular networks comes with provider dependency but offer global reach, SLA-backed uptime, and immediate deployment without infrastructure costs.
LoRaWAN is best suited for private networks where you control the infrastructure. While public LoRaWAN networks exist, they lack the coverage and reliability of cellular networks.Read our detailed comparison guide to understand when to choose LoRaWAN vs cellular IoT.
| Protocol | Data Rate | Mobility | Power | Voice | Cost | Coverage | Primary Use Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NB-IoT | < 250 kbps | No | Best | No | Very Low | Deep | Static sensors, metering |
| LTE-M | ~1 Mbps | Yes | Good | OTT | Low | Wide | Trackers, wearables, alarms |
| Cat-1bis | ~10 Mbps | Yes | Mid | Yes | Mid-Low | Wide | Compact trackers, smart devices |
| Cat-1 | ~10 Mbps | Yes | Mid | Yes | Higher | Wide | Voice + data, vending, POS |
| LoRaWAN | 0.3-50 kbps | Limited | Best | No | Very Low | Local | AgTech, buildings, private |
It explains NB-IoT, LTE-M, LTE Cat-1, LoRaWAN, 4G/5G and satellite (NTN): what each is for, power, bandwidth, mobility and typical use cases. Comparison guides then help you choose between NB-IoT and LTE-M, LoRaWAN and cellular IoT, and 5G IoT and LPWAN.
NB-IoT fits static, low-data devices that need long battery life and deep indoor coverage, such as meters and sensors. LTE-M fits devices that move or need more data, such as trackers and alarms, because it supports handover and has lower latency. The comparison guide walks through the trade-offs.
LoRaWAN suits a private network you control: you deploy gateways, avoid per-SIM fees and keep data on your own infrastructure, within range of each gateway. Cellular IoT (NB-IoT, LTE-M) is simpler to deploy on public operator networks when you need mobility, roaming or coverage you do not want to build.
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