The IoT Glossary: Smart Connectivity, Simply Explained

You don’t have to be a software engineer to understand the Internet of Things. Below you’ll find simple, non-technical explanations of key IoT concepts you need to know.

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Cellular Networks

What’s the Difference between 5G and 5GE?

07.11.2023 The 5G landscape is primarily segmented into Non-Standalone (NSA) and Standalone (SA) architectures. The prevalent NSA infrastructure utilizes existing 4G networks, offering improved speeds. However, it is the SA 5G that represents a major leap forward, particularly for IoT, due to its support for network slicing—enabling customized network capabilities for diverse applications.

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What Is a Core Network, and How Does it Affect Cellular Devices?

06.06.2023 – Cellular Networks

When a cellular device connects to a telecommunications provider and receives service, it connects to the provider’s “core network,” sometimes referred to as a backbone network, mobile core network, or network core. This is the collection of network infrastructure that:

What Is LTE Cat-M2?

23.02.2022 – Cellular Networks

LTE Cat-M2 offers the same advantages as Cat-M1, but with faster speeds. In order to use Cat-M2, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have to upgrade their Cat-M1 infrastructure. IoT manufacturers, however, won’t need to invest in new technologies: Cat-M1 modems are still compatible with Cat-M2 networks, and Cat-M2 uses the same frequency bands. Since 2016, MNOs have been building up their Cat-M1 infrastructure, but in the future, this will all be Cat-M2.

What Is LTE Cat-1?

15.02.2022 – Cellular Networks

LTE has more than 20 distinct User Equipment (UE) categories that define specific uplink and downlink capabilities. The lower the category number, the slower its data speeds are. This means LTE Cat-1 consumes less power and is less complex than higher LTE UE categories, making it better suited for battery-powered devices.

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What Is a Mobile Switching Center (MSC)?

02.07.2021 – Cellular Networks

When a device attempts to access a GSM or CDMA-based network, it connects to the network’s nearest Base Transceiver Station. The Base Station Controller then relays the connection to the MSC, which is part of the Network Switching Subsystem.

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What Is 3G? Third Generation Cellular Networks Explained

02.07.2021 – Cellular Networks

3G networks operate on frequency bands between 400 MHz and 3GHz. While they consume 50 percent more power than 2G networks, they also provide greater spectrum efficiency, making them suitable for a wider range of applications.

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2G and the Internet of Things: What You Need to Know

02.07.2021 – Cellular Networks

While 2G networks were built with cell phones in mind, this technology has historically been the most popular choice for Internet of Things manufacturers because it has global infrastructure, works well indoors and outdoors, consumes less power, and costs far less than more advanced cellular networks. Most cellular IoT applications currently use 2G.

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What Is GSM? The Global System for Mobile Communication Explained

22.04.2021 – Cellular Networks

GSM is currently the most widely used network technology in Internet of Things (IoT) applications for its simplicity, affordability, and accessibility. But that’s likely to change over the next few years.

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What Is 4G? Fourth Generation Cellular Networks Explained

22.04.2021 – Cellular Networks

Two main branches of technology have been marketed as 4G: LTE (Long Term Evolution) and WiMax. Many Internet of Things applications rely on 4G LTE or specialized “categories” of it: LTE-M (Long Term Evolution for Machines) and LTE-Cat 1 (category one).

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