Network Standards Comparison

Compare Cellular Bearer Services for IoT

Technology	LoRa	NB-IoT (LTE Cat-NB1/2)	LTE-M (LTE Cat-M)	4G (LTE Cat-1 BIS)	4G (LTE Cat-1)	High Performance 4G (LTE Cat-4/6)	5G (LTE Cat-16)
Global Standards	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Major MNO Support	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Typical Connection Speed (Up/Down)	Up to 0.05 Mbps	0.07Mbps/0.03 Mbps	Up to 1 Mbps	10Mbps/5Mbps	10Mbps/5Mbps	100Mbps/50Mbps	Up to 1Gbps/120Mbps
Number of Antennas	1	1	1	1	2	2	2
Deployment Scenarios	Stationary (good for indoor and underground)	Stationary (good for indoor and underground)	Stationary (good for indoor and underground)	Mobile/Stationary	Mobile/Stationary	Mobile/Stationary	Mobile/Stationary
International Availability & Roaming	n/a	Limited	Limited	✓	✓	✓	✓
Data transfer frequency	Intermittent	Intermittent	Frequent	Frequent	Frequent	Always On	Always On
Response Time (Latency)	Medium	Slow ~1 sec	Medium ~100ms	Fast 40ms	Fast 40ms	Fast 40ms	Ultra Fast ~1ms
Mobility	✗	Handover between cells not supported	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Total Cost of Ownership	Deployment Specific (might have to deploy and manage gateways)	Deployment Specific (low for local, medium for international)	Deployment Specific (low for local, medium for international)	Low	Low-Medium	Medium	Medium
Power Source	Battery, Solar	Battery, Solar	Battery, Solar	Battery, Rechargeable Battery or Mains	Battery, Rechargeable Battery or Mains	Mains	Mains
Battery Life	5-10 years battery life	5-10 years battery life	5-10 years battery life	up to 5 years	up to 3 years	1 year	<1 year
Power Saving Mode (PSM)	✓	✓ although not always available when roaming	✓ although not always available when roaming	✗	✗	✗	✗
Extended Sleep Cycle (eDRX)	✗	✓ although not always available when roaming	✓ although not always available when roaming	✗	✗	✗	✗
SMS	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Two-way Voice	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
eSIM(eUICC) Compatible	n/a	✓although not in sleep mode	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓