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Hello readers!
Welcome to this week’s IoT For All newsletter where we’ll be talking about the first Voice over NB-IoT call, IIoT cybersecurity, scaling IoT deployments, and more. Read on!
NB-IoT Strikes Back
Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) made headlines late last year when AT&T announced it would be sunsetting the NB-IoT network and infrastructure it had launched in 2019. This was far from a deathknell for the standards-based low-power wide area network (LPWAN) technology which is still offered by Verizon and T-Mobile and is widespread in Europe and Asia. But it was a troubling surprise. Now, NB-IoT has a new trick up its sleeve: Satellite voice transmission.
This week, US telecom software company Mavenir and Canadian mobile satellite operator Terrestar Solutions Inc announced that they had executed a successful Voice over NB-IoT call in Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) mode. Using 3GPP-standardized NTN S-band spectrum, the companies were able to avoid terrestrial interference and compensate for the latency inherent in using geostationary (GEO) satellites for the transmission.
The implications? As Mavenir SVP Sachin Karkala puts it:
This development allows satellite operators to launch voice services immediately using available spectrum, existing GEO satellites and industry-standard user equipment with a simple software upgrade to deliver voice services country-wide.
It’s no small technical accomplishment either. While the feat has been possible over competing cellular IoT network technology LTE-M since at least 2022, LTE-M allows for higher data rates and lower latency. This Voice over NB-IoT proof of concept is doing more with less, with its non-terrestrial approach poised to bring voice connectivity to otherwise unreachable areas.
Whether the tech will find immediate applications remains to be seen, of course. The first testbed for Voice over Narrowband Non-Terrestrial Network (NB-NTN) is set to be showcased at MWC Barcelona, the world’s foremost mobile communications industry tradeshow.
One thing is clear: Any rumors of NB-IoT’s death have been greatly exaggerated.
📖 Top Articles
Choosing the right commercial model in IoT is more than a financial decision – it’s a strategic move that can unlock growth, improve customer experiences, and drive long-term success. With IoT use cases diversifying across industries, understanding the nuances of pricing models is critical for enterprises to thrive.
 Organizations have a growing need for data collection and analytics. As a result, many are adopting cutting-edge Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies, such as connected sensors and cloud-based software. IIoT joins hardware and software in a connected system, allowing remote monitoring, automated alerts, and integration with computers and mobile devices. Here’s how to keep it all secure. |  Many industrial settings include vibration-damping materials and devices to protect delicate equipment or maintain consistent environments for highly precise or sensitive tasks. Some of these offerings incorporate Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. Although they are relatively niche, these specialized IoT products often offer greater responsiveness than their nonconnected counterparts. |
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