Optimising the network for the Internet of Things

logo cellwize

The “Internet of Things”, the “Internet of Everything” and the “Connected Life” are just some of the buzzwords being used to describe physical objects being interconnected via the Internet. Analyst firms such as IDC are already estimating that the market will be worth upwards of $7 trillion with new devices deployed in almost every industry.

Gartner predicts that Machine to Machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) will include 26 billion units by 2020. Everything from vehicles and parking meters and medical devices to even clothes will be connected wirelessly. This tide of connected devices will generate extra data traffic and could pose problems. Why? That’s because mobile networks will play a pivotal role in transporting that data to maintain M2M and IoT connectivity.

Some mobile networks will struggle to cope and the congestion will inevitably lead to subscriber frustration.

What is causing the congestion?           

Today’s mobile networks with LTE (4G)/3G/2G are a jungle of technologies. Originally, 2G networks, launched on a GSM standard, was to mainly serve voice calls and introduce encrypted data messaging. With the growth in data traffic, currently, most mobile operators rely on their 2G networks to carry M2M and IoT data traffic. However, 2G networks are still used as a ‘fallback’ even for LTE (4G) voice traffic.

LTE is a packet-based all-IP network that’s unable to support circuit-switched calls. So, when an LTE device needs to make or receive a voice call or SMS, the device “falls back” to 3G or 2G for termination. As a result, subscribers often switch back and forth between technologies and if the “fallback” is not smooth, the result is a dropped call and lost Internet sessions. Now, with the ever growing congestion on the 2G network, M2M and IoT traffic is getting disrupted.

Already mobile operators are facing a failure rate upwards of 30% for M2M and IoT sessions – and this directly impacts Service Level Agreements.

What can operators do to keep IoT traffic moving smoothly while maintaining Quality of Experience (QoE) for subscribers? One solution an increasing number of mobile operators have deployed is Self-Organizing Networks (SON), which orchestrates traffic across the different technologies and vendors. A recent report by industry analyst Infonetics highlighted why service providers need to consider a vendor-agnostic centralized SON (C-SON) solution to address the mounting complexity in 2G/3G/LTE networks.

The C-SON difference

The cellular network is comprised of an array of equipment from different infrastructure and technology vendors. Obviously we can now add to that the data flowing from IoT and M2M devices, which will also come from a plethora of vendors. C-SON provides operators with a solution for seamless IoT and M2M interoperability; furthermore, a successful C-SON implementation must work across different vendors and technologies in order to effectively manage traffic.

Although many SON solutions claim to run seamlessly across all technologies and vendors some SON solutions today still fail to cover 2G. For a C-SON solution to be effective, it needs to work across the different network layers (2G, 3G, LTE) and distribute the load for smooth voice traffic and IoT and M2M data transmission.

While the media spotlight is on 4G/LTE, the humble 2G spectrum still accounts for over 60% of all mobile connections globally and generates nearly $500bn in revenues – despite falling Average Revenues per User (ARPU).

When time is money

There is one sure-fire certainty. From SIM-enabled wearables to commercial drones, an abundance of IoT connected devices will come online over the next few years as Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) vie to capitalize on a lucrative market. Ultimately, it is the mobile network that has to carry the extra data burden from the IoT ecosystem. That makes it imperative for operators to make their networks fast, reliable and robust for IoT and M2M services.

Deploying a C-SON solution safeguards the network from any damage a potential disruption of service could cause. When subscribers have great QoE, operators can benefit from customer referrals and higher Net Promoter Scores. In an ultra-competitive market where every second counts, it’s the positive feedback and customer satisfaction that enables an operator to maintain loyalty and to stay one step ahead of the competition.

Daniel DribinskiMr. Daniel Dribinski CTO & Co-Founder of Cellwize

RECENT ARTICLES

Semtech enhances global connectivity with NTN support in HL78 modules

Posted on: March 29, 2024

Semtech Corporation has announced the integration of non-terrestrial network (NTN) support into its HL series LPWA modules, specifically the HL7810 and HL7812. This significant advancement showcases a leap forward in enabling uninterrupted global connectivity even amidst the most challenging conditions.

Read more

Enhance EV charging performance with cellular connectivity

Posted on: March 28, 2024

Electric vehicles (EVs) are steadily growing their market share at the expense of internal combustion engine vehicles. The growth is fuelled by several factors. Perhaps most importantly, prices for EVs have started to drop as competition in the industry is intensifying. New players and models are emerging, prompting several established EV makers to lower their

Read more
FEATURED IoT STORIES

What is IoT? A Beginner’s Guide

Posted on: April 5, 2023

What is IoT? IoT, or the Internet of Things, refers to the connection of everyday objects, or “things,” to the internet, allowing them to collect, transmit, and share data. This interconnected network of devices transforms previously “dumb” objects, such as toasters or security cameras, into smart devices that can interact with each other and their

Read more

The IoT Adoption Boom – Everything You Need to Know

Posted on: September 28, 2022

In an age when we seem to go through technology boom after technology boom, it’s hard to imagine one sticking out. However, IoT adoption, or the Internet of Things adoption, is leading the charge to dominate the next decade’s discussion around business IT. Below, we’ll discuss the current boom, what’s driving it, where it’s going,

Read more

9 IoT applications that will change everything

Posted on: September 1, 2021

Whether you are a future-minded CEO, tech-driven CEO or IT leader, you’ve come across the term IoT before. It’s often used alongside superlatives regarding how it will revolutionize the way you work, play, and live. But is it just another buzzword, or is it the as-promised technological holy grail? The truth is that Internet of

Read more

Which IoT Platform 2021? IoT Now Enterprise Buyers’ Guide

Posted on: August 30, 2021

There are several different parts in a complete IoT solution, all of which must work together to get the result needed, write IoT Now Enterprise Buyers’ Guide – Which IoT Platform 2021? authors Robin Duke-Woolley, the CEO and Bill Ingle, a senior analyst, at Beecham Research. Figure 1 shows these parts and, although not all

Read more

CAT-M1 vs NB-IoT – examining the real differences

Posted on: June 21, 2021

As industry players look to provide the next generation of IoT connectivity, two different standards have emerged under release 13 of 3GPP – CAT-M1 and NB-IoT.

Read more

IoT and home automation: What does the future hold?

Posted on: June 10, 2020

Once a dream, home automation using iot is slowly but steadily becoming a part of daily lives around the world. In fact, it is believed that the global market for smart home automation will reach $40 billion by 2020.

Read more

5 challenges still facing the Internet of Things

Posted on: June 3, 2020

The Internet of Things (IoT) has quickly become a huge part of how people live, communicate and do business. All around the world, web-enabled devices are turning our world into a more switched-on place to live.

Read more