This Lesser Known Side of the Internet of Things May be the Most Significant

When one thinks about the Internet of Things (IoT), smart homes, smart cars, and mobile devices come to mind. While innovations like these are fueling the excitement behind the IoT, it’s actually the smaller, behind-the-scenes IoT devices that are poised to bring about the most significant change to our connected society.

These devices encompass technologies you don’t generally interact with or even think about much, yet they’re needed to drive society forward. Devices such as gas meters, water gauges, trashcans, soil moisture sensors, and much more, are being retrofitted for the IoT. In fact, of the billions of devices that make up the IoT, and the billions more that will connect to it in the near future, the majority of these “things” will actually come from small, data collecting devices, instead of flashy gadgets like the latest smartphones.

To the careful observer, the prospect of all of these devices on the Internet should raise the question, “How will all of these small and obscure devices connect to the Internet, or even have the power to do so?” This is a fair inquiry, especially considering how spotty 3G and 4G coverage is in some areas, and how the batteries of many modern devices can’t go more than a few hours or a few days without needing to be recharged.

Take for example an IoT-enabled gas meter on a log cabin in the middle of the woods that has spotty Internet coverage. Being so far out of the way, it doesn’t make fiscal sense to have a technician replace the meter’s battery every few months. To help resolve issues like these, narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) technology is being developed. Experts are predicting this technology will essentially be “the glue” that holds IoT together. Consider this description of NB-IoT from NetworkComputing:

NB-IoT, originally called the cellular Internet of Things, is an emerging industry solution designed to enhance the global deployment of low-power wide area (LPWA) networks. Through licensed operator spectrum, in-band, guard band, and standalone deployments, NB-IoT can provide connectivity to devices in hard to reach places without requiring much power to do so.

NB-IoT technology is specifically designed for inaccessible and hard-to-reach areas, like our log cabin example, as well as other important yet overlooked places that can stand to benefit from IoT technology, like basements, underground pipes, islands, boats, etc. NetworkComputing continues:

This is where NB-IoT and LPWA technology come in, because they can provide a long-range mobile connection with low power consumption. This combination of connectivity and low-power needs means a utility company can install connected flow meters around a water distribution network to automatically detect leaks without worrying about whether or not the sensor will work.

This technology is already revolutionizing several industries, while having the potential to dramatically improve many more. In fact, the full potential of IoT technology has yet to be realized, which should cause business owners in every industry to stop and consider how this next big IT trend can benefit their company. Who knows, with a little creative thinking, perhaps you’ll be able to come up with ways that your business can benefit from accessing data collected by hundreds, or even thousands, of connected devices.

NB-IoT technology is making the future of IoT a reality, and if you can dream it, SMART Services can work with you to achieve it. Give us a call at (586) 258-0650 and let's discuss the future of your networking needs.