# Part 2: Introduction to Narrow Band LTE ###### tags: `TA Stuff RP2` `Raspberry Pi Pico` This is a short introduction to Narrow Band LTE which is used in IoT projects. ## What is Narrow Band LTE? NB LTE is a Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) developed primarily for the Internet of Things (IoT) application area. It operates on the cellular network and communicates with low bandwidth and power consideration over long distances. Sensor devices that need to send data infrequently can use NB LTE's **Sleep Mode** capability to reduce power consumption. This will let the sensors operate for weeks and months without recharging the batteries. There exist two standards for NB LTE; **Cat-M1** and **NB-IoT**. According to [Ericsson](https://www.ericsson.com/en/blog/2019/2/difference-between-nb-iot-cat-m1), Cat-M1 operates at 1.4 MHz bandwidth with lower latency and more accurate device positioning which makes it a better choice for voice connectivity and movable object (M stands for "mobility"). On the other hand, NB-IoT operates at 200KHz with higher latency and lower data rate compared to Cat-M1 but it operates more efficiently under challenging radio conditions. NB-IoT could be a better choice for utility meters and sensors while Cat-M1 is suitable for connected vehicles, wearable devices, trackers, and alarm panels. You also can read more about the differences of Cat-M1 and NB-IoT [**here**](https://onomondo.com/blog/nb-iot-vs-lte-m-a-comparison-of-the-two-iot-technology-standards/). At the time of writing this tutorial, NB LTE is not operational in all countries, and some are still under development. Most countries support both Cat-M1 and NB-IoT while few only support one of them. You can find the network coverage in your neighborhood from [**GSMA**](https://www.gsma.com/iot/deployment-map/) homepage. ## Narrow Band Simcard Providers There are different narrow-band providers for public usage today and more will be joining soon. [**1nce**](https://1nce.com/en/) provides low-cost sim cards worldwide and its network coverage could be checked [here](https://1nce.com/en/coverage/). [**Hologram**](https://www.hologram.io/) is another international player and its network coverage can be checked [here](https://www.hologram.io/pricing/coverage). [**IoT Creators**](https://iotcreators.com/) is a Europe focused provider that has coverage on [these](https://iotcreators.com/coverage-eu/) countries. ## Narrow Band Development Boards There are several LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) chip providers for narrowband LTE. They are included but not limited to [**Ublox**](https://www.u-blox.com/en/cellular-modules#LTE-M-/-NB-IoT), [**Simcom**](https://www.simcom.com/module/lpwa.html), [**Murata**](https://www.murata.com/en-global/products/connectivitymodule/cat-m1), and [**Sequans**](https://sequans.com/products-solutions/chips/lte-m-nb-iot/). These chips can be integrated into your custom design with the microcontroller and used in IoT projects. One of the development boards that supports both Cat-M1 and NB-IoT is T-SIM7000G from [Lilygo](http://www.lilygo.cn/prod_view.aspx?TypeId=50033&Id=1246) which uses the ESP32 microcontroller from [Espressif](https://www.espressif.com/sites/default/files/documentation/esp32-wrover-b_datasheet_en.pdf). A detailed description on how to get this board to work is presented in [this tutorial](https://randomnerdtutorials.com/lilygo-t-sim7000g-esp32-lte-gprs-gps/). ## Conclusion There are several communication standards adopted for Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) in the IoT world. **NB LTE** beside [**LoRa**](https://lora-alliance.org/) and [**Sigfox**](https://www.sigfox.com/en) make the sensor nodes connected and each has its strength and limits. **NB LTE** is useful in the areas where there are already cellular connections by adding narrow-band capabilities. It also seems interesting in smart connected vehicle worlds where the sensors need to take us home safely. *[APN]: Access Point Name *[HTML]: Hyper Text Markup Language *[REPL]: Read-Evaluate-Print Loop