Cellular Connectivity for Mobile IoT Devices: The Pros and Cons

“Mobile IoT” is a synonym for cellular IoT connectivity. But it also describes a huge segment of IoT devices. Micromobility vehicles, consumer wearables, asset trackers, and more: Many IoT devices don’t stick around in one place. 

So when should you use mobile (i.e., cellular) networks to connect these mobile devices? Understanding  the key benefits and limitations of cellular connectivity can help you make that decision. Before we get into the pros and cons of cellular connectivity for IoT devices that travel, however, here’s an overview of how cellular networks keep IoT deployments operating in the first place.  

A Brief Introduction to Cellular IoT Connectivity

Nearly everyone in the United States—97%, at least—uses a cellular phone of some kind. (For 85% of Americans, it’s a smartphone.) Everytime you send a text, make a phone call, or update social media, that phone sends a message to a cellular network. 

The message is encoded into electromagnetic waves—radio waves, to be precise. Network towers pick up these signals. They also send radio signals back to the device. That’s how information moves wirelessly across the network. 

Cellular IoT devices work the same way as your phone, but with a few key differences: 

• Most IoT devices have different needs than smartphones. They prioritize low power demands, low data throughput, wide coverage, and consistent connectivity. 

• To meet these unique demands, standardization body 3GPP defines special standards for cellular IoT traffic across mobile networks. These standards include LTE-M, NB-IoT, Cat 1, Cat 1bis, and 5G New Radio (NR) standards like RedCap and eRedCap. 

• Each MNO has a limited coverage area. That means global IoT deployments (and moving IoT devices) can’t rely on a single Mobile Network Operator (MNO).  

Luckily, there’s a solution to this last challenge. Cellular connectivity-as-a-service platforms create global cellular networks by managing partnerships with hundreds of local MNOs. They provide global connectivity hardware (IoT SIM cards) or software (IoT SoftSIM) that connects your devices to these global networks. Finally, they manage a global cellular IoT connectivity stack from the base stations to simple user platforms, complete with analytics. 

If cellular networks are right for your IoT deployment—especially if you operate in a global market—a strong connectivity partner is essential for ongoing success. But is cellular the right technology to connect your mobile devices? Keep reading to find out. 

The Pros and Cons of Cellular Connectivity for mobile IoT devices

When an IoT device moves around a lot, you probably can’t keep it connected through Bluetooth, WiFi, or a private low power, wide area network (LPWAN). For many devices, that only leaves cellular networks and satellite connections, which can be quite costly.  

That said, cellular connectivity offers a consistent set of advantages and limitations for every IoT device that’s not stationary. 

Benefits of Cellular Connectivity for moving IoT devices

Cellular connectivity is usually a good choice for IoT deployments with mobile devices. These advantages explain why: 

• Reliable global coverage. Nearly 90% of the world’s population is covered by a 4G network, making LTE Cat 1 and Cat 1bis, NB-IOT, or LTE-M—all IoT connectivity technologies—available just about everywhere.      

• Regulated and standardized communications. Government agencies and industry groups control the parts of the electromagnetic spectrum that MNOs use to handle cellular IoT traffic. That makes radio waves themselves more reliable than the unregulated parts of the spectrum. 

• High-speed connectivity. Cellular IoT standards are designed to be fast, limiting latency for quick access to data devices collect—and quick responses when devices run functionality on the cloud. 

• Real-time tracking and data collection. The speed of cellular IoT communications enables nearly real-time data tracking. With instantaneous data processing, users can transform information into insights in time to make better decisions every time. 

Limitations of Cellular Connectivity for Mobile IoT Devices

Of course, every communications technology has weak spots, too. Here are some of the downsides to cellular IoT connectivity:  

• Inconsistent signal strength or network availability. Travel too far from any cell tower, and your device could encounter spotty connectivity. And because cellular data moves via radio waves, anything that blocks those waves—weather, terrain, or even a rush of other users—can disrupt service.     
• Power demands. When IoT devices move around a lot, there’s always a balancing act between functionality and battery life. Cellular connections can sometimes draw a lot of power. Luckily, optimized tech stacks, low power modes, and the right IoT standards can limit this problem. 

• Potential security vulnerabilities. Cellular networks are subject to a few unique security risks, like SMS hijacking and denial-of-service attacks. You can limit the security risks of cellular IoT with device-level security like IMEI locks, encryption, and lots of over-the-air updates—but nothing is more secure than a private, local network that doesn’t connect to the internet at all.      

• Cost and complexity. We’ve talked about how each MNO only covers one part of the globe. Without a connectivity partner, IoT operators would have to manage contracts with MNOs in every market—and pay full rates that can quickly become cost prohibitive. 

With the right connectivity partner, however, cost and complexity plummet. Such a partner allows you to manage connectivity for all your mobile devices within a single platform, and with consistent, transparent pricing. That’s ideal for lots of IoT use cases, some of which we’ll discuss next. 

Cellular IoT: 3 Common Use Cases for Mobile Devices

When IoT devices don’t stand still, you need connectivity that moves with them. A global IoT network can provide that capability—but what types of IoT deployments tend to benefit from cellular connectivity? Here are three of the most common:  

1. Asset tracking. A global supply chain needs global visibility. Cargo tracking IoT devices often rely on cellular connectivity to provide consistent updates on the location—and condition—of everything from shipping containers to pallets to individual parcels. The same is true for devices that track vehicles and even wildlife. 
   
2. Consumer wearables. People don’t stay still, which means their wearable IoT devices are often on the move, too. A global cellular network helps wearables provide consistent service for the most active world traveler.   
   
3. Automotive IoT and smart vehicles. Our cars are increasingly becoming IoT devices for themselves. To maintain the benefits of environmental data collection, predictive maintenance, and infotainment, automotive IoT needs consistent connectivity. For devices that are designed to move, cellular networks are often the best choice. 

In all these examples, devices aren’t likely to remain within a single MNO’s coverage area. Again, that points to the best option for cellular IoT: A connectivity partner with a global cellular network, optimized for IoT. 

Choosing a Connectivity Partner for Moving IoT Devices

Whether your devices stay still or move across the globe, you have lots of choices for cellular connectivity. Not all connectivity partners provide the same level of service, however—and that’s because there are different types of connectivity providers. 

Telling these companies apart can be a bit difficult, because they all generally fall under the category of mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs. An MNO owns, maintains, and operates the cellular network—both the physical infrastructure (towers, base stations, servers, etc.) and the radio waves themselves.  

All MVNOs purchase access to the MNO’s networks, but the services they offer may differ considerably: 

• An MVNO Reseller simply purchases connectivity, markets it, and resells it to IoT operators. 

• An MVNO Service Provider bundles extra services—such as customer care and billing—into the cellular connectivity it sells.

• An MVNO Enhanced Service Provider goes one step further, offering a suite of user apps such as analytics or fleet management.

• A Full MVNO does all of the above, while also operating a Unified Network that sews hundreds of networks into a single experience for the IoT operator. A Full MVNO can only accomplish this through full core integrations with Radio Access Networks (RANs) operated by hundreds of MNOs.       

Because of the deep integration offered by a Full MVNO, these connectivity partners can offer greater transparency for device performance. They can also provide more tools, from no-code cloud integrations to simple network steering to easy-to-use APIs. 

In short, cellular connectivity is ideal for IoT devices that travel. You just have to establish that connectivity through a partnership with a Full MVNO to get all the benefits.