T-Mobile has revealed the nation’s first plan for narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) as it prepares to capitalise on expected growth.
NB-IoT is built on the 3GPP standard and is often seen as a step towards 5G IoT with its similar benefits — which includes low power usage, long battery life, and support for more connections per cell site.
Mike Sievert, Chief Operating Officer for T-Mobile, says:
“The number of connected devices already outnumbers the worldwide population, and it’s only getting bigger. So, of course, T-Mobile is taking advantage of the latest IoT tech to make it simpler – and massively more affordable – for businesses and cities to connect things.
Launching Narrowband IoT is a giant step toward 5G IoT, and naturally, T-Mobile is leading the way!”
According to a Mobile Experts report, NB-IoT will represent over 57 percent of cellular IoT shipments by 2022. The report also notes the hype surrounding 5G IoT devices “isn’t really justified”.
Joe Madden, Chief Analyst for Mobile Experts, comments:
“Connectivity will shift from GPRS or LTE Cat-4 to Cat-M or NB-IoT, with much longer battery life and more affordable devices. Our deep-dive research in key vertical markets has highlighted the specific business models and applications where the new C-IoT applications will grow."
T-Mobile will roll out NB-IoT for just $6 per year. For comparison, that is around one-tenth of the cost of Verizon’s Cat-M plans.
For more information on T-Mobile’s IoT offerings, visit www.t-mobile.com/iot
What are your thoughts on T-Mobile’s NB-IoT plans? Let us know in the comments.
