NB-IoT Will Enhance North American Network Footprint for IoT Solutions With More Choices for Businesses

AT&T* will launch NarrowBand Internet of Things (NB-IoT) to meet the growing needs of business customers for a wide range of IoT solutions. Our NB-IoT technology will complement our existing LTE-M network in the U.S. and Mexico.

NB-IoT and LTE-M are Low-Power Wide-Area (LPWA) technologies that support massive IoT deployments. Both NB-IoT and LTE-M are supported in licensed spectrum and with carrier-grade security.

“We’ve seen global momentum for LPWA since launching our North American LTE-M network last year,” said Chris Penrose, President, IoT Solutions, AT&T. “Adding NB-IoT to our portfolio will expand our LPWA capabilities, help drive investment in our evolution to 5G and support our customers as they deploy IoT solutions across the U.S. and Mexico.”

We plan to launch NB-IoT in the U.S. early next year, followed by Mexico by the end of 2019

Our investment in NB-IoT and LTE-M will be future-ready. These technologies are expected to become part of the industry’s massive IoT standards.

NB-IoT and LTE-M offer longer battery life, coverage extension, and lower costs than traditional cellular LTE connectivity. NB-IoT is ideally suited to meet basic data requirements, while LTE-M provides more robust capabilities including bandwidth for firmware and software updates, mobility and VoLTE (Voice over LTE) services.

A key to increasing LPWA adoption is building a broad base of ecosystem partners, devices and applications for global markets.  The introduction of NB-IoT and LTE-M dual-mode chipsets and modules means customers can support a wide range of applications globally.

Like LTE-M, NB-IoT technology will be deployed through software upgrades at cell sites across the U.S. and Mexico. Both will operate alongside our 4G LTE network and within our mobile 5G network. Our 5G network is scheduled to launch in parts of Dallas, Atlanta and Waco, Texas, by the end of this year.

Both NB-IoT and LTE-M have clear advantages over technologies that operate in unlicensed spectrum. These include greater protections from interference, broader coverage availability and carrier-grade security.

According to GSMA, the mobile wireless operators’ association, 24 mobile operators have commercially launched 48 mobile IoT networks worldwide across both NB-IoT and LTE-M. GSMA forecasts 1.8 billion licensed LPWA connections by 2025.