NB-IoT - Narrowband Internet of Things ======================================== .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **What is NB-IoT?** NB-IoT (Narrowband Internet of Things) is a **cellular communication technology** standardized by 3GPP, designed for **low-power wide-area (LPWA)** applications. It enables devices to connect to the internet using existing mobile networks, with a focus on low cost, long battery life, and reliable indoor coverage. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Why is NB-IoT useful?** * Provides **excellent coverage**, even indoors and underground. * **Low power consumption**, enabling devices to run on batteries for over 10 years. * Operates over licensed spectrum, ensuring **reliability and security**. * Ideal for **massive IoT deployments** (up to 100,000 devices per cell). * Cost-effective module and connectivity options. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **How it works?** * NB-IoT connects devices via the **cellular network infrastructure** (LTE or 5G). * Devices use **narrowband channels** (180 kHz) to communicate with base stations. * It supports both **uplink and downlink** communication using **simplified LTE protocols**. * Data is typically sent via **IP-based** or **non-IP** transmissions depending on the use case. * Integration with mobile core networks enables scalability and reliability. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Where is NB-IoT used?** * **Smart metering** (electricity, gas, water). * **Smart agriculture** (soil sensors, livestock tracking). * **Smart cities** (parking sensors, lighting, waste management). * **Industrial monitoring** (pipes, equipment). * **Healthcare** (wearables, patient tracking). .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Which OSI layer does this protocol belong to?** * NB-IoT operates primarily at the **Physical (Layer 1)** and **Data Link (Layer 2)** layers. * It supports **IP (Layer 3)** and can transport **application protocols** (e.g., CoAP, MQTT) on top of the stack. * It is a **radio access technology**, so it forms the lower part of the communication stack. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **IS NB-IoT Windows specific?** * No, NB-IoT is **not Windows-specific**. * Devices that support NB-IoT run **firmware** or embedded operating systems. * Applications on Windows can interact with NB-IoT modules via APIs or cloud platforms, but the protocol itself is platform-agnostic. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **IS NB-IoT Linux Specific?** * No, NB-IoT is **not Linux-specific**. * However, Linux is commonly used in **NB-IoT gateways**, **edge devices**, or **network servers** that process or forward NB-IoT data. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Which Transport Protocol is used by NB-IoT?** * NB-IoT supports multiple transport layers: * **UDP/IP** and **TCP/IP** for IP-based communication. * **Non-IP Data Delivery (NIDD)** for lightweight, non-IP communication. * Protocols like **CoAP**, **MQTT**, or **LwM2M** can run over UDP. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Which Port is used by NB-IoT?** * NB-IoT itself does **not use a fixed port**, as it is a **cellular transport technology**. * The **port depends on the application-layer protocol** (e.g., CoAP uses UDP 5683, MQTT uses TCP 1883). * Carriers and services may define specific ports for NB-IoT services via their APIs. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow **Is NB-IoT using Client server model?** * **Yes**, NB-IoT typically follows a **client-server model**. * IoT devices (clients) send data to cloud servers or platforms (servers). * The server may also send commands or updates back to the devices. .. panels:: :container: container pb-4 :column: col-lg-12 p-2 :card: shadow Topics in this section, * :ref:`Learnings in this section ` * :ref:`Terminology ` * :ref:`Version Info ` * :ref:`NB-IoT Version&IEEE Details ` * :ref:`NB-IoT Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv4 ` * :ref:`NB-IoT Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv6 ` * :ref:`NB-IoT Protocol Packet Details ` * :ref:`NB-IoT Usecases ` * :ref:`NB-IoT Basic Features ` * :ref:`Reference links ` .. _NB-IoT_step1: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Learnings in this section * In this section, you are going to learn .. _NB-IoT_step2: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Terminology * Terminology .. _NB-IoT_step3: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Version Info * Version Info .. _NB-IoT_step5: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: NB-IoT Version&RFC Details * rfc details .. _NB-IoT_step18: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: NB-IoT Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv4 * setup .. _NB-IoT_step19: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: NB-IoT Basic Setup on Ubuntu using IPv6 * setup .. _NB-IoT_step6: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: NB-IoT Protocol Packet Details * packet details .. _NB-IoT_step7: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: NB-IoT Usecases * usecases .. _NB-IoT_step8: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: NB-IoT Basic Features * features .. _NB-IoT_step17: .. tab-set:: .. tab-item:: Reference links * Reference links