New Narrowband-IoT module may be a hit in international markets

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Quectel Wireless, a networking hardware provider that specializes in IoT and machine-to-machine (M2M) solutions, has unveiled BC68, the world's smallest Narrowband-IoT (NB-IoT) module.

BC68, which Quectel will show off for the first time at a conference in Amsterdam next week, was developed from Huawei's V150 mobile chipset.

Narrowband-IoT is a low-power wide area networking (LPWAN) standard designed to connect enterprise IoT devices that consume very little power, transmit very little data, and are spread out over a large geographic area.

Devices connected to NB-IoT networks tend to require small modules because the devices themselves are usually very small. Such devices could include sensors that measure pressure on an oil rig or the location of a shipping container. NB-IoT better suits these devices since it has a lower data rate than other rival cellular LPWAN standards, including LTE Cat-M1. Sensors, smart meters, and other small IoT devices normally collect and transmit very small amounts of data only every few hours. NB-IoT meets their low-data requirements inexpensively and without excessive battery drain.

The BC68 module could prove attractive in international markets — the Asia-Pacific region in particular — where NB-IoT is rapidly expanding. While the two largest mobile carriers in the US, Verizon and AT&T, are currently rolling out LTE Cat-M1, international network operators are primarily backing NB-IoT as their LPWAN standard of choice — it is currently being tested in Spain, Singapore, China, and South Korea. As operators finalize these tests and deploy the network commercially, demand for NB-IoT compatible modules will rise sharply, giving Quectel a sizable opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region.

BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, expects that more than 24 billion IoT devices will be installed globally in 2020, and the vast majority of these will fall into the small, low-power category.

So networks that are better suited to connect these low-power IoT devices — notably, Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWANs) — are being developed. These networks can connect devices over large geographic areas because of their long range, but use less battery power on the devices they connect and offer cheaper data subscriptions than traditional cellular networks. Interest in LPWANs among IoT providers and end users is growing in response to the opportunities these benefits present.

BI Intelligence has compiled a detailed report on LPWANs that:

Details the broad need for low-cost, low-power internet connectivity for IoT devices that LPWANs will help meet.
Forecasts the growth of the LPWAN market including new networking providers and traditional mobile carriers that are launching their own LPWANs.
Examines how LPWANs will be adopted by different industries that are launching IoT projects.
Compares the distinct characteristics and advantages of different standards for LPWANs.
Explains how the LPWAN market will develop over the coming years in regards to different standards and competitors.
Examines what the future of internet network connectivity for IoT devices will look like, including LPWANs and the coming of 5G mobile networks.

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