NB-IoT - Narrowband Internet of Things

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Topics in this section,

  • In this section, you are going to learn

  • Terminology

  • Version Info

  • rfc details

  • setup

  • setup

  • packet details

  • usecases

  • features

  • Reference links